dial. and colloq. [prob. a back-formation from SPANKING ppl. a. 2.]
1. intr. To move or travel with speed and elasticity; to go quickly and vigorously; to ride or drive at a sharp trot and in a smart or stylish manner. Usually const. with adverbs or preps., esp. with along: a. Of animals, in general use.
1807–10. Tannahill, Poems (1846), 20. I saw the dragon spankin o’er the fiels.
1808–. in numerous dial. glossaries and texts (Sc., E. Angl., Northants., Warw., Som., etc.).
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, s.v., How he did spank along!
1886. C. Scott, Sheep-Farming, 200. His dog … darts off like a greyhound. We watch him spanking across the glen.
1902. Manch. Courier, 13 Nov., 3/4. He [Reynard] came away right handed, and spanked along for Kenwick Park.
b. spec. Of horses, or of persons driving or riding these. Also with it.
1811. Lexicon-Balatronicum, Spank (Whip). To run neatly along, between a trot and gallop.
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, viii. ‘I suppose so, sir,’ said the groom…. ‘Zounds! she can spank it over wet and dry.’
1843. Le Fevre, Life Trav. Phys., II. I. xiv. 36. At this season they [the roads] were good, so that we spanked along merrily.
1860. Thackeray, Lovel, iii. A gentleman in a natty gig, with a high-trotting horse, came spanking towards us.
c. Of ships: To sail quickly and smartly; to bowl along.
1834. H. Miller, Scenes & Leg., xiii. (1857), 195. I found myself aboard Robinson’s lugger, spanking down the frith.
1841. Capt. B. Hall, Patchwork, II. xiii. 251. When … we did get to sea … we spanked along.
1894. Crockett, Raiders, x. (ed. 3), 93. The Ariel was at that moment spanking away to the south’ard.
2. trans. To drive (horses) quickly and smartly.
1825. C. Westmacott, Engl. Spy, I. 205. Where Gwydin spanks his fours along.
1840. Thackeray, Shabby-genteel Story, v. How knowingly did he spank the horses along.
