Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- transitive verb To kidnap (a man) for compulsory service aboard a ship, especially after drugging him.
- transitive verb To induce or compel (someone) to do something, especially by fraud or force.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Nautical, to render insensible, as a person, by drugs, liquor, or violence, and ship him on a vessel wanting hands, for the purpose of fraudulently securing advance-money and any premium offered for procuring seamen.
- noun A very long-legged hen with feathered shanks, reputed to have been introduced from Shanghai, China.
- noun Hence A tall person; especially, a tall dandy.
- noun A long, slender oyster; a stick-up or stuck-up; a coon-heel, rabbit-ear, or razor-blade.
- noun A kind of fish-hook.
- noun A boys' catapult.
- To shoot with a shanghai. See
shanghai , 5.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb Slang, U.S. To intoxicate and ship (a person) as a sailor while in this condition.
- noun (Zoöl.) A large and tall breed of domestic fowl.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb transitive To force or trick (someone) into joining a ship which is lacking a full crew.
- verb transitive To abduct or coerce.
- verb transitive To
commandeer ;appropriate ;hijack - noun dated A
slingshot .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb take (someone) against his will for compulsory service, especially on board a ship
- noun the largest city of China; located in the east on the Pacific; one of the largest ports in the world
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word shanghai.
Examples
-
In he was assigned to the motor transport unit in shanghai, china, eventually becoming
-
Link many of my friends have unlocked iphone. yet, we are in shanghai of china, not the usa. so, u know where the missing iphones go! — joe lee
Good News in the One Million Missing iPhones - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008
-
TANNET help foreign investors invest in shanghai, service includes WFOE registration in Shanghai, Shanghai representative office establishment in Shanghai, as well as some relevant service, such as work permit registration.
The Tail Section » Post-DocArzt Message and Introduction 2007
-
No one would "shanghai" a gentleman to crew some tramp ship; for one thing, what was the point?
The Serpent's Shadow Lackey, Mercedes 2001
-
This machine resembled a large "shanghai" fixed to timber, one end of which rested on the parapet whilst the other -- in the trench -- was packed in a manner to give the required elevation.
The 28th: A Record of War Service in the Australian Imperial Force, 1915-19, Vol. I Egypt, Gallipoli, Lemnos Island, Sinai Peninsula Herbert Brayley Collett 1912
-
I am sure that any good-sized "shanghai" eats more every day than the meager half loaf that we had to maintain life upon.
Andersonville — Volume 3 John McElroy 1887
-
I am sure that any good-sized "shanghai" eats more every day than the meager half loaf that we had to maintain life upon.
Andersonville John McElroy 1887
-
'shanghai' in hand, under the tree where Hardy sat.
The Gold-Stealers A Story of Waddy Edward Dyson 1898
-
I had my wallet stolen from the Uighurs more than once in the subways (people square, shanghai).
Global Voices in English » The Uyghurs: Persecuted Muslim Minority in NorthWest China 2009
-
"What are you doing with my cook? — lost yours and trying to shanghai him?"
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.