hijack

present singular third person hijacks · participle present hijacking · participle past hijacked · past hijacked · alternative hi-jack · alternative highjack

1. To forcibly seize control of some vehicle in order to rob it or to reach a destination (especially an airplane, truck or a boat).
2. To seize control of some process or resource to achieve a purpose other than its originally intended one.

   hijack the radio show

   1 more example

   Once the polyfill kicks in, it hijacks the user's input cursor and places it into a different field, a problem that does not exist in the native implementation of autofocus.

   2013, Jon Raasch, JavaScript Programming: Pushing the Limits

3. governmentTo introduce an amendment deleting the contents of a bill and inserting entirely new provisions.

plural hijacks · alternative hi-jack · alternative highjack

1. An instance of hijacking; the illegal seizure of a vehicle; a hijacking.
2. An instance of a seizure and redirection of a process.

   I opened my closet door and stared. Should I pack my good suit and black loafers? Uh-uh. Travel light. Think positive. Go there, get done whatever there was to do, and get back. I loved Lolly, but I couldn't let her stroke hijack my life. How many guys would do this much for their aunt?

   2008, Wally Lamb, The Hour I First Believed, Ch.3, at p.60-61

3. governmentAn amendment which deletes the contents of a bill and inserts entirely new provisions.
4. slangcard gamesPreflop, the position two before the dealer.
5. obsoleteA highwayman, robber.

   One lone "high-jack" held up 11 harvest hands in a freight car [...] last night, making a clean getaway with slightly over $180.

   1915 August 26, “Stick-Ups Get Good Hauls From Harvest Hands Near Yankton”, in Pierre Weekly Free Press, Pierre, SD, page 6