hijack
UK[ˈhaɪ.dʒæk]US[ˈhaɪ.dʒæk]
v
to illegally take control of a vehicle, especially an aircraft, during a journey, often using force or threats.
v
to take control of something, such as a meeting, discussion, or system, for one's own purposes.
Etymology
the origin of 'hijack' is uncertain but it emerged in american english in the early 20th century, initially in the context of robbing bootleggers or stealing cargo. one popular but unverified theory suggests it comes from the command "high, jack!" a robber might use, with 'jack' being a generic term for a man. another theory links it to the slang term 'hijacker' for a thief who preyed on bootleggers. regardless of its exact source, the term's meaning expanded dramatically in the late 1960s to specifically denote the seizure of aircraft, which became its primary and most grave association.
Analysis
this word is considered a simplex form in modern english. its origin is obscure, and its components are not productively separable morphemes within the current spelling.
Examples
the terrorists attempted to hijack the commercial airliner mid-flight.
he tried to hijack the brainstorming session to promote his own project.
the broadcast signal was hijacked by hackers displaying a political message.