kidnapper

The word 'kidnapper' is a compound formed from the slang terms 'kid' (child) and 'nap' (to seize), with the agent suffix '-per'. It originated in the late 17th century, specifically referring to the criminal practice of stealing children to provide servants and laborers for the American colonies. The term 'kid' had evolved from its original meaning of a young goat to a colloquial term for a child. 'Nap', related to 'nab', came from a Germanic root meaning to seize suddenly. The combination literally meant 'child-seizer', and its meaning later broadened to include the abduction of any person for ransom or other illicit purposes.

Structure: kid (child) + nap (to seize) + per (agent suffix) - kid: From Middle English kide, of Scandinavian origin. The original sense was 'a young goat'. In the word, it functions as the object of the action, representing the person seized. - nap: From nab, a variant of knap (to seize), of Low German or Dutch origin. In the word, it functions as the verb root meaning 'to seize or steal'. - per: A common English agent suffix, from Latin -ator via Old French -eor, -our. In the word, it functions to denote 'a person who performs the action'.