What does shanghaied mean?
The verb 'shanghaied' refers to the act of recruiting or enlisting someone, especially by force or deception, into a ship's crew, especially in the 19th century. This term is often associated with the practice of press-ganging, where sailors were forcibly recruited into a ship's crew. The word is derived from the name of the port city of Shanghai, where this practice was common. The term is often used to describe situations where someone is recruited or enlisted against their will, and is often associated with a sense of coercion or force. In modern usage, the term is often used in a more figurative sense to describe situations where someone is recruited or enlisted into a particular activity or cause, often against their will. The word is often used in a nautical or historical context, but can also be used in more general situations.
verbTo recruit or enlist someone, especially by force or deception, into a ship's crew, especially in the 19th century.
- To recruit or enlist someone, especially by force or deception, into a ship's crew, especially in the 19th century.
"The sailor was shanghaied into serving on a merchant vessel."
"The sailor was shanghaied into serving on a merchant vessel."
"The captain tried to shanghai his rival into joining his crew."
The plural form 'shanghaieds' is used to describe multiple instances of someone being recruited or enlisted against their will.
"The captain tried to shanghai his rival into joining his crew, but he was shanghaied into serving on a different vessel."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of shanghaied
The word 'shanghaied' is derived from the name of the port city of Shanghai, where the practice of press-ganging was common in the 19th century. The term is thought to have originated in the mid-19th century, when sailors were forcibly recruited into a ship's crew in the port city. The word is a combination of the name of the city and the verb 'to gang', which means to recruit or enlist someone by force or deception.
How shanghaied is actually used
The term 'shanghaied' is often used to describe the act of recruiting or enlisting someone against their will, especially in a nautical context. It is often associated with the 19th century practice of press-ganging, where sailors were forcibly recruited into a ship's crew.