1. plural of bodysnatching; the act of stealing dead bodies, historically for medical dissection or other purposes
Usage: historical; often refers to 18th and 19th century grave robbery
2. plural of bodysnatching; in science fiction, the abduction or replacement of people by aliens or other entities
Usage: figurative; science fiction context

Examples

• The museum exhibit documented the bodysnatchings that occurred in Edinburgh during the early 1800s.
• Medical schools in the 19th century were sometimes supplied with cadavers obtained through bodysnatchings.
• The horror film featured alien bodysnatchings that turned townspeople into emotionless duplicates.
• Burke and Hare became infamous for their bodysnatchings in Scotland.
• The novel explores themes of identity loss through extraterrestrial bodysnatchings.