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Kidnap

//ˈkɪdnæp// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun

1
The crime, or an instance, of kidnapping. countable, uncountable

Verb

1
To seize or detain a person unlawfully and move or conceal them; sometimes for ransom. transitive
"Hello, ladies! How’s the Big Apple? Rotten, Jerry! Clover's been kidnapped! Oh, dear! That's the second time this month!"
2
take away to an undisclosed location against their will and usually in order to extract a ransom wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From kid + nap (“to nab; to grab”). Originally Thieves' cant, referring to the practice of stealing children and shipping them to colonies or plantations as laborers. First attested c. 1680.

Etymology 2

From kid + nap (“to nab; to grab”). Originally Thieves' cant, referring to the practice of stealing children and shipping them to colonies or plantations as laborers. First attested c. 1680.

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