hijack
UK: ˈhaɪdʒæk | US: ˈhaɪdʒæk
vt. to seize control of a vehicle (especially an aircraft) by force
vt. to steal or take over something unlawfully (e.g., data, resources)
n. an act of hijacking
The word "hijack" emerged in the early 20th century, originally linked to Prohibition-era crime in the US. One theory suggests robbers would commandeer trucks carrying illegal alcohol by shouting, "Hi, Jack!"—using "Jack" as a generic term for the driver. Over time, it generalized to unlawful seizures, especially of aircraft. The morpheme "hi" is an interjection, while "jack" refers to a person (from the name "Jack").
The terrorists attempted to hijack the plane mid-flight.
Hackers can hijack personal data through phishing scams.
The documentary explored famous train hijackings in the 1970s.
Pirates hijacked the cargo ship near the Somali coast.
Protesters accused the corporation of hijacking public resources.