Hitchhike
/ˈhɪtʃˌhaɪk/noun
To travel by getting free rides from passing vehicles, usually by standing at the roadside and signaling.
Did you know?The second half, hike, may trace back to a Scandinavian root meaning “to pull” or “to jerk,” so the word carries the feel of being hauled along by luck.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
hitch-hike
“To travel by asking for rides, especially on the road”
Old English
OE
hyccan / hīcian
“To move with a jerk or make a sudden motion”
Old Norse
ON
hika
“To hesitate or delay”
Early Modern English
English
hitch
“To catch, fasten, or move with a jerk”
Modern English
English
hitchhike
“To travel by soliciting rides from passing vehicles”