let drive

present singular third person lets drive · participle present letting drive

1. idiomaticobsoleteTo aim a blow; to strike with force; to attack; to shoot (an arrow or firearm).

   1720, William Rufus Chetwood, The Voyages, Dangerous Adventures and Imminent Escapes of Captain Richard Falconer, London: for the author et al., Book III, p. 155, They turn’d immediately upon me, and let drive at me several Blows, which had the good Fortune not to hit me […]

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   Four rogues in buckram let drive at me—

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]

   […] if ever love had any cause to revenge the wrongs which are done unto him, it is against them they ought to let drive all the arrows of his justice, and make them exemplary unto all such as abuse the name of Lovers.

   1658, Honoré d’Urfé, translated by John Davies, Astrea, Part 3, Book I, p. 213

   While he was drinking, one of our men snatcht up his Gun, and let drive at him, and kill’d his Horse

   1687, William Dampier, chapter 9, in A New Voyage Round the World, volume I, London: James Knapton, page 253

   Without any ceremony the near man let drive at my throat with one of those beastly wavy daggers they go in for.

   1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC

2. obsoletenauticalTo allow (a vessel) to be propelled by the wind, current or tide.

   […] he ordered our Boats to be heaved overboard and let drive with the Wind.

   1768, Henry Brooke, chapter 13, in The Fool of Quality, volume 3, Dublin: for the author, page 169

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   And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 27:15

   1625, Nicholas Downton, “Extracts of the Journall of Captaine NICHOLAS DOWNTON” in Samuel Purchas, Purchas His Pilgrimes, London: Henry Fetherstone, Book 4, Chapter 11, Section 3, p. , The Nabob sent Lacandas to informe me, that these supplyes were not for warre, but fild full of combustible matter to fire, and so to be let driue with the tyde vpon our ships in the night […]

   Finding that they left us we consulted which way to steer, and resolved to let drive before the Wind.

   1683, chapter 17, in John Morrison, transl., The Perillous and Most Unhappy Voyages of John Struys, London: Samuel Smith, page 207

   Before Lefty Bill could drop his hammer, the spiggoty had turned around, drawed and let drive.

   1938, L. Ron Hubbard, Six-Gun Caballero