landgrab

/ ˈlændˌɡræb /

noun

1. informal.
   a sudden attempt to establish ownership of or copyright on something in advance of competitors

Word History and Origins

Origin of landgrab¹

C20: from the competition to stake claims to available land in 19th-century America

Example Sentences

Strelkov, a former intelligence officer, played a key role in Russia's 2014 landgrab of Crimea.

From BBC

His brief military foray into Georgia in 2008, his landgrab in Ukraine in 2014, his intervention in Syria in 2015 — none were comparable in their size or audacity.

From Salon

He reminded Russians of the war in Iraq and the bombing of Belgrade, but steered clear of Russia's long and devastating role in the Syrian civil war, its invasion of neighbouring Georgia or landgrab in Crimea.

From BBC

The tycoon took on the role of governor of the wider Dnipropetrovsk region in 2014 and played a key role in funding volunteer battalions in response to Russia's initial landgrab in eastern Ukraine.

From BBC

The machines’ encroachment was slow at first, but this year it turned into a landgrab.

From Science Magazine