■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped ; US also ~s , ~ing , ~ed ) abduct and hold captive, typically to obtain a ransom.
■ noun an instance of ~ping.
Derivatives
~per noun
Origin
C17: back-form. from ~per , from kid 1 + sl. nap 'nab, seize'.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped ; US also ~s , ~ing , ~ed ) abduct and hold captive, typically to obtain a ransom.
■ noun an instance of ~ping.
Derivatives
~per noun
Origin
C17: back-form. from ~per , from kid 1 + sl. nap 'nab, seize'.
Concise Oxford English vocab. Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2004