I’m a bit of a word nerd, and I was wondering the etymology of the word kidnap.
kidnap (v.)
1680s, thieves’ cant, a compound of kid (n.) “child” and nap (v.) “snatch away,” which probably is a variant of nab (v.). Perhaps a back-formation from kidnapper, which is recorded earlier. Originally "to steal children to provide servants and laborers in the American colonies.
I’m a bit of a word nerd, and I was wondering the etymology of the word kidnap.
kidnap (v.)
1680s, thieves’ cant, a compound of kid (n.) “child” and nap (v.) “snatch away,” which probably is a variant of nab (v.). Perhaps a back-formation from kidnapper, which is recorded earlier. Originally "to steal children to provide servants and laborers in the American colonies.
Source:https://www.etymonline.com/word/kidnap
It’s as American as apple pie apparently.