shanghai

¹

[ shang-hahy, shang-hahy ]

verb (used with object)

, Nautical.

, shang·haied, shang·hai·ing.

1. to enroll or obtain (a sailor) for the crew of a ship by unscrupulous means, as by force or the use of liquor or drugs.

Shanghai

²

[ shang-hahy; Chinese shahng-hahy ]

noun

1. Pinyin, Wade-Giles. a seaport and municipality in E China, near the mouth of the Chang Jiang.
2. a type of long-legged chicken believed to be of Asian origin.

shanghai

¹

/ ˈʃæŋhaɪ; ʃæŋˈhaɪ /

verb

1. to kidnap (a man or seaman) for enforced service at sea, esp on a merchant ship
2. to force or trick (someone) into doing something, going somewhere, etc
3. to shoot with a catapult

noun

1. a catapult

Shanghai

²

/ ˈʃæŋˈhaɪ /

noun

1. a port in E China, capital of Shanghai municipality (traditionally in SE Jiangsu) near the estuary of the Yangtze: the largest city in China and one of the largest ports in the world; a major cultural and industrial centre, with many universities. Pop: 12 665 000 (2005 est)

Shanghai

1. Largest city in China , located in the eastern part of the country on the Pacific Ocean .

Notes

Shanghai is the most populous city in Asia .

Opened to foreign trade by the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, Shanghai became a treaty port administered by Britain , the United States, and France until World War II .

It is one of the world's great seaports.

Word History and Origins

Origin of shanghai¹

First recorded in 1855–60; after Shanghai

Word History and Origins

Origin of shanghai¹

C19: from the city of Shanghai ; from the forceful methods formerly used to collect crews for voyages to the Orient

Example Sentences

A schemer and her henchmen shanghai two book salesmen for a diamond safari in Africa.

From Los Angeles Times

“We should engage in careful dialogue to decide the best action. Let us not be shanghaied into a rash move for being labeled.”

From Los Angeles Times

I consider trying to catch part of the show, but am afraid that if I cross the lot I’ll get shanghaied into some other task.

From Literature

A pirate shanghais a teenager who missed the plane to join his girlfriend on an island.

From Los Angeles Times

On the Rena, we were no longer his flesh and blood, but a crew of landlubberly scum shanghaied from the taverns and fleshpots of many exotic ports.

From Literature