shanghai

[ shang-hahy, shang-hahy ]
/ ˈʃæŋ haɪ, ʃæŋˈhaɪ /

verb (used with object), shang·haied, shang·hai·ing. Nautical.

to enroll or obtain (a sailor) for the crew of a ship by unscrupulous means, as by force or the use of liquor or drugs.

Origin of shanghai

First recorded in 1855–60; after Shanghai

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH shanghai

hijack kidnap shanghai skyjack

Words nearby shanghai

Example sentences from the Web for shanghaied

British Dictionary definitions for shanghaied (1 of 2)

shanghai
/ (ˈʃæŋhaɪ, ʃæŋˈhaɪ) slang /

verb -hais, -haiing or -haied (tr)

to kidnap (a man or seaman) for enforced service at sea, esp on a merchant ship
to force or trick (someone) into doing something, going somewhere, etc
Australian and NZ to shoot with a catapult

noun

Australian and NZ a catapult

Word Origin for shanghai

C19: from the city of Shanghai; from the forceful methods formerly used to collect crews for voyages to the Orient

British Dictionary definitions for shanghaied (2 of 2)

Shanghai
/ (ˈʃæŋˈhaɪ) /

noun

a port in E China, capital of Shanghai municipality (traditionally in SE Jiangsu) near the estuary of the Yangtze: the largest city in China and one of the largest ports in the world; a major cultural and industrial centre, with many universities. Pop: 12 665 000 (2005 est)

Cultural definitions for shanghaied

Shanghai

Largest city in China, located in the eastern part of the country on the Pacific Ocean.

notes for Shanghai

Shanghai is the most populous city in Asia.

notes for Shanghai

It is one of the world's great seaports.

notes for Shanghai

Opened to foreign trade by the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, Shanghai became a treaty port administered by Britain, the United States, and France until World War II.