Talk:hijack

etymology

The current section only contains "folk etymologies", which is to say, no etymology at all. Please add a real etymology. 85.227.226.235 14:08, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

I wonder, why is it that its etymology is "Hi, Jack," yet the spelling highjack is acceptable? - TopAce 13:37, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

My Dutch newspaper claims the phrase originates from "hold 'em high, Jack", but without any sources. I couldn't stand that, so I did some research and added this to the page 62.108.4.166 12:47, 20 December 2008 (UTC)

Yet another source claims that it's from "highway jacker", with "jacker" apparent slang for a person who holds up a vehicle or travelers on the road.

71.241.76.116 09:20, 9 August 2010 (UTC)

I seem to remember seeing the spelling as "hijaak" in print in the 1980's. —This unsigned comment was added by 96.25.97.83 (talk • contribs) 04:31, 25 May 2011 (UTC).

References

Folk etymologies

Moved here rather than keep them in the entry, when they are wrong. Equinox ◑ 21:59, 4 February 2017 (UTC)

There are several folk etymologies:

• That it arose from someone wanting a lift on a truck calling "Hi, Jack" (the exclamation plus the name), until this was used often as a trick by robbers.
• That it comes from seamen who were robbed by prostitutes in former centuries in London. Prostitutes would call out "Hi, Jack" to passing sailors. Instead of receiving the services they expected, some sailors were instead robbed by an accomplice.
• That it comes from the Old West phrase "hold 'em high, Jack"