hijack
or high·jack
[ hahy-jak ]
/ ˈhaɪˌdʒæk /
verb (used with object)
to steal (cargo) from a truck or other vehicle after forcing it to stop: to hijack a load of whiskey.
to rob (a vehicle) after forcing it to stop: They hijacked the truck before it entered the city.
to seize (a vehicle) by force or threat of force.
to skyjack.
verb (used without object)
to engage in such stealing or seizing.
noun
an act or instance or hijacking.
Origin of hijack
1920–25,
Americanism; back formation from
hijacker
OTHER WORDS FROM hijack
an·ti·hi·jack, adjectiveWords nearby hijack
British Dictionary definitions for hijack
hijack
highjack
/ (ˈhaɪˌdʒæk) /
verb
(tr)
to seize, divert, or appropriate (a vehicle or the goods it carries) while in transit
to hijack an aircraft
to rob (a person or vehicle) by force
to hijack a traveller
(esp in the US during Prohibition) to rob (a bootlegger or smuggler) of his illicit goods or to steal (illicit goods) in transit
noun
the act or an instance of hijacking
Derived forms of hijack
hijacker or highjacker, nounWord Origin for hijack
C20: of unknown origin