overdrive

overdrive · verb¹

1. Old English · inherited fromoferdrīfan
2. Middle English · inherited fromoverdriven
3. English todayoverdrive

From Middle English overdriven, from Old English oferdrīfan, equivalent to over- + drive. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uurdrieuwe (“to overdo, overstate”), Dutch overdrijven (“to exaggerate”), German Low German overdrieven, överdrieven (“to overdo, exaggerate”), German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”), Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”).

overdrive · noun²

From over- + drive, originally referring to gear ratios over 1:1.