What is the etymology of the word "kidnap"? Can you kidnap someone who is not a kid? My friend said that her dog was "dognapped," can you do that???
Can you KIDnap an adult?
Here's the official status of kidnapping in the US:
(Apparently it applies only to "persons", so you can't officially kidnap a dog, at least under 18 USC 1201. Things may be different in other countries.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
18 USC Sec. 1201
01/26/98
TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 55 - KIDNAPPING
HEADING
Sec. 1201. Kidnapping
STATUTE
(a) Whoever unlawfully seizes, confines, inveigles, decoys, kidnaps, abducts, or carries away and holds for ransom or reward or otherwise any person, except in the case of a minor by the parent thereof, when -
(1) the person is willfully transported in interstate or
foreign commerce;
(2) any such act against the person is done within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States;
(3) any such act against the person is done within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States as defined in section 46501 of title 49;
(4) the person is a foreign official, an internationally protected person, or an official guest as those terms are defined in section 1116(b) of this title; or
(5) the person is among those officers and employees designated in section 1114 of this title and any such act against the person is done while the person is engaged in, or on account of, the performance of official duties
shall be punished by imprisonment for any term of years or for life and, if the death of any person results, shall be punished by death or life imprisonment.
blah blah blah
(Apparently it applies only to "persons", so you can't officially kidnap a dog, at least under 18 USC 1201. Things may be different in other countries.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
18 USC Sec. 1201
01/26/98
TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 55 - KIDNAPPING
HEADING
Sec. 1201. Kidnapping
STATUTE
(a) Whoever unlawfully seizes, confines, inveigles, decoys, kidnaps, abducts, or carries away and holds for ransom or reward or otherwise any person, except in the case of a minor by the parent thereof, when -
(1) the person is willfully transported in interstate or
foreign commerce;
(2) any such act against the person is done within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States;
(3) any such act against the person is done within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States as defined in section 46501 of title 49;
(4) the person is a foreign official, an internationally protected person, or an official guest as those terms are defined in section 1116(b) of this title; or
(5) the person is among those officers and employees designated in section 1114 of this title and any such act against the person is done while the person is engaged in, or on account of, the performance of official duties
shall be punished by imprisonment for any term of years or for life and, if the death of any person results, shall be punished by death or life imprisonment.
blah blah blah
Can you manhandle a woman? Can you manhunt a woman? Can you manslaughter a woman?
Guest #1,
Of course that definition only applies to interstate issues. If the kidnapping takes place entirely in one state, then that law would not apply. (Remember, the US is a federal system!)
Don't worry too much about wondering about KIDnapping, I know as a kid (and I'm a native speaker) me and the other kids often wondered about the first syllable of that word being "kid" which made words like DOGnapping make sense, etc. But I still think that adults can be "kidnapped" as well, though the legal term I think is often abduction.
Of course that definition only applies to interstate issues. If the kidnapping takes place entirely in one state, then that law would not apply. (Remember, the US is a federal system!)
Don't worry too much about wondering about KIDnapping, I know as a kid (and I'm a native speaker) me and the other kids often wondered about the first syllable of that word being "kid" which made words like DOGnapping make sense, etc. But I still think that adults can be "kidnapped" as well, though the legal term I think is often abduction.
<<But I still think that adults can be "kidnapped" as well, though the legal term I think is often abduction. >>
Kidnapping may imply holding a hostage for ransom , whereas abduction might be just grabbing and carrying someone off (e.g into slavery).
Kidnapping may imply holding a hostage for ransom , whereas abduction might be just grabbing and carrying someone off (e.g into slavery).
I think the word "kidnap" is derived from kid nab (nab = to steal). Originally it would have applied to children (hundreds of years ago), but now it is used for anyone.
You CAN say "dognapped", but it's not standard English. Such words are not uncommon in colloquial speech, and are often, but not always, humorous. A person is always "kidnapped", though, never "adultnapped" or anything.
Not to be too OT, but I just want to point out to the non-native speakers here, that a kid is actually a young goat and not necessarily a human child.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=kid
I always thought that the original meaning of "kidnapper" was a goat thief. It's a quite an old word anyway.
Etymology:
probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid + obsolete napper thief
Date:
1682
.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=kidnap
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=kid
I always thought that the original meaning of "kidnapper" was a goat thief. It's a quite an old word anyway.
Etymology:
probably back-formation from kidnapper, from kid + obsolete napper thief
Date:
1682
.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=kidnap
I find amusing that while "dognapping" indicates the abduction of a dog, "catnapping" refers to taking a short, light nap the way a cat often does.
Achab
Achab
Kids at my school used to make "-napped" words out of everything that was stealable. Pencilnapped, booknapped, Gameboy-napped... I don't know how pervasive this practice is among English-speaking kids internationally, but around here (California) I think it's pretty common.