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highjack

 - 6 dictionary results

high⋅jack

[hahy-jak]
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), noun
hijack.

hi⋅jack

[hahy-jak]
–verb (used with object)
1. to steal (cargo) from a truck or other vehicle after forcing it to stop: to hijack a load of whiskey.
2. to rob (a vehicle) after forcing it to stop: They hijacked the truck before it entered the city.
3. to seize (a vehicle) by force or threat of force.
4. to skyjack.
–verb (used without object)
5. to engage in such stealing or seizing.
–noun
6. an act or instance or hijacking.
Also, highjack.


Origin:
1920–25, Americanism; back formation from hijacker
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To highjack
high·jack   (hī'jāk')   
v.   & n.
Variant of hijack.
hi·jack also high·jack   (hī'jāk')   
tr.v.   hi·jacked also high·jacked, hi·jack·ing also high·jack·ing, hi·jacks also high·jacks
    1. To stop and rob (a vehicle in transit).

    2. To steal (goods) from a vehicle in transit.

    3. To seize control of (a moving vehicle) by use of force, especially in order to reach an alternate destination.

    4. To steal from as if by hijacking.

    5. To swindle or subject to extortion.

    1. To steal from as if by hijacking.

    2. To swindle or subject to extortion.

n.  The act or an instance of hijacking.

[Probably back-formation from highjacker, perhaps from jacker, holdup man, from jack, to jacklight.]
hi'jack'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hijack 
1923, Amer.Eng., from high(way) + jacker "one who holds up." Originally "to rob (a bootlegger, smuggler, etc.) in transit;" sense of "seizing an aircraft in flight" is 1968 (also in 1961 variant skyjack), extended 1970s to any form of public transportation.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: hi·jack
Pronunciation: 'hI-"jak
Function: transitive verb
: to seize possession or control of (a vehicle) from another person by force or threat of force; specifically : to seize possession or control of (an aircraft) esp. by forcing the pilot to divert the aircraft to another destination —hijack nounhi·jack·er noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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