shanghai
verb
- to kidnap/abduct
proper noun
- municipality of China
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈʃɛŋˈhaɪ/ / /ʃaŋˈhaɪ/ / /ʃæŋˈhaɪ/ / /ˈʃæŋ.haɪ/ / /ʃɑŋˈhaɪ/
name
Etymology: c. 1840, likely from an English-derived romanization of the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of Chinese 上海 (Shànghǎi), reinforced by Wade–Giles, Postal Romanization, and Hanyu Pinyin.
- A major port city and direct-administered municipality of China, the largest urban area in China.
“SHANGHAI (the emporium of Nanking) is the first town of any importance on the coast of Kiangnan province.[…]If, however, these difficulties were surmounted, and suitable precautions taken against existing dangers, the embouchure of this river would be one of the most eligible points for the establishment of British commerce in the whole empire. Be this as it may, however, certain it is that even now Shanghai carries on the greatest native trade of any port on the coast.[…] The city of Shanghai is built on the left bank, some distance from the mouth. It is laid out with sufficient elegance, and numerous temples.”
“In January 1901, we reached Japan where Mrs. Hoover remained for the winter while I went to Shanghai in search of a method of reaching North China. The Port of Taku being frozen and there being then no railway connection between Shanghai and the north, all communication had been suspended for the winter.”
- A major international port including the eastern coast of Shanghai Municipality and the northeastern islands of Zhejiang Province.
noun
Etymology: c. 1840, likely from an English-derived romanization of the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation of Chinese 上海 (Shànghǎi), reinforced by Wade–Giles, Postal Romanization, and Hanyu Pinyin.
- Alternative letter-case form of shanghai in its various senses derived from the Chinese city.
verb
Etymology: From Scottish shangan, from Scottish Gaelic seangan, influenced by the Chinese city.
- To hit with a slingshot.