hijack

• hi-jack, highjack

Possibly from a blend of highway +‎ jacker (“one who holds up”)^[1] (1915).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈhaɪ.dʒæk/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

hijack (third-person singular simple present hijacks, present participle hijacking, simple past and past participle hijacked)

1. To forcibly seize control of some vehicle in order to rob it or to reach a destination (especially an airplane, truck or a boat).
2. To seize control of some process or resource to achieve a purpose other than its originally intended one.

   hijack the radio show

3. (politics) To introduce an amendment deleting the contents of a bill and inserting entirely new provisions.

hijack (plural hijacks)

1. An instance of hijacking; the illegal seizure of a vehicle; a hijacking.
2. An instance of a seizure and redirection of a process.
   • 2008, Wally Lamb, The Hour I First Believed, Ch.3, at p.60-61:

     I opened my closet door and stared. Should I pack my good suit and black loafers? Uh-uh. Travel light. Think positive. Go there, get done whatever there was to do, and get back. I loved Lolly, but I couldn't let her stroke hijack my life. How many guys would do this much for their aunt?

3. (politics) An amendment which deletes the contents of a bill and inserts entirely new provisions.
4. (poker slang) Preflop, the position two before the dealer.
5. (obsolete) A highwayman, robber.
   • 1915 August 26, “Stick-Ups Get Good Hauls From Harvest Hands Near Yankton”, in Pierre Weekly Free Press‎^[1], Pierre, SD, page 6:

     One lone "high-jack" held up 11 harvest hands in a freight car [...] last night, making a clean getaway with slightly over $180.