hijack English · revision 1970

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhaɪ.d͡ʒæk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is unknown.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is perhaps a back-formation from [[hijacker]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) itself perhaps from ''high'' (as in [[highway]]) and ''jacker'' “one who holds people up”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To rob a bootlegger or smuggler of goods in transit (1923; by 1922 in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word arose in Prohibition-era America for stealing contraband liquor on the road.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It spread to stealing any goods from a vehicle in transit.^(AHD)^(RHWU) In the 1960s it was applied to seizing an aircraft in flight (1968, also ''skyjack''),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and in the 1970s to taking over any form of public transport.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Figuratively, to hijack a process or resource is to take it over for one's own ends.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1918–1922 – first use.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1923 – to rob bootleggers in transit.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1923 – noun, an act of hijacking.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1961 – ''skyjack''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1968 – to seize an aircraft in flight.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To seize control of a vehicle, especially an aircraft, by force.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To stop and rob a vehicle in transit, or steal its goods.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To take over something for a purpose other than the one intended.^(Wiktionary)

+ # To swindle or extort from.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An act or instance of hijacking.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hijacker]]

+ * [[skyjack]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[carjack]]

+ * [[highway]]

+ * [[jack]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}