Overdriving

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>What in the world does "overdriving" mean in this context??

"Overdrive" here is like "overwork".

MW3: "overdrive" (sense 1):

<<to drive too hard or far or beyond strength or a fixed limit ...
"skeletons of ... beasts which had been overdriven by their anxious owners
Gordon Enders">>

When the law on animal cruelty was written, presumably a common offense
involved driving/working the hose/mule/ox to death. Hence the name of the
offense in the law book ... I suppose.

-- Doug Wilson


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