shanghaier

Shang·hai ¹  (shng-h, shäng-)

A city of eastern China at the mouth of the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) southeast of Nanjing. The largest city in the country, Shanghai was opened to foreign trade by the Treaty of Nanking (1842) and quickly prospered. France, Great Britain, and the United States all held large concessions in the city until the early 20th century. Shanghai is located in Jiangsu province but is administered as a separate governmental unit. Population: 9,830,000.

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Shang·hai ²  (shng-h)

n.

See Cochin China².

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[After Shanghai¹.]

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shang·hai  (shng-h, shngh)

tr.v. shang·haied, shang·hai·ing, shang·hais

1. To kidnap (a man) for compulsory service aboard a ship, especially after drugging him.

2. To induce or compel (someone) to do something, especially by fraud or force: We were shanghaied into buying worthless securities.

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[After Shanghai¹, from the former custom of kidnapping sailors to man ships going to China.]

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shang·haier n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

shanghaier - a kidnapper who drugs men and takes them for compulsory service aboard a ship seizer abductor, kidnaper, kidnapper, snatcher - someone who unlawfully seizes and detains a victim (usually for ransom)