Advertisement
kidnap (v.)
1680s, thieves' cant, a compound of kid (n.) "child" and nap (v.) "snatch away," which probably is a variant of nab (v.). Perhaps a back-formation from kidnapper, which is recorded earlier. Originally "to steal children to provide servants and laborers in the American colonies." Related: Kidnapped; kidnapping.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of kidnap
Dictionary entries near kidnap
kid
kidder
Kidderminster
kiddo
kiddy
kidnap
kidnapper
kidnapping
kidney
kielbasa
Kiev