The term 'hitched' is a colloquialism for the act of hitchhiking, which is when someone stands by the side of the road and sticks out their thumb in order to get a ride from a passing vehicle. This is usually done as a way to travel without having to pay for transportation. The crossword solution for this term is 'thumbed, ' which is a reference to the gesture of sticking out one's thumb to signal that they are looking for a ride.