— hostageship , n.
/hos"tij/ , n. , v. , hostaged, hostaging .
n.
1. a person given or held as security for the fulfillment of certain conditions or terms, promises, etc., by another.
2. Archaic. a security or pledge.
3. Obs. the condition of a hostage.
v.t.
4. to give (someone) as a hostage: He was hostaged to the Indians.
[ 1225-75; ME hostage ( h - by assoc. with ( h ) oste HOST 2 ), ostage obsidaticum state of being a hostage obsid- (s. of obses ) hostage (equiv. to ob- OB- + sid- SIT) + -aticum -AGE ]