Chiefly dial. and colloq. [Of doubtful origin. Cf. Da. (and NFris.) spanke to strut.]
1. Very big, large or fine; exceptionally good in some respect, freq. with implication of showiness or smartness.
a. 1666. Fanshawe, Love for Love’s sake, II. (1671), 64. What a spanking Labradora!
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Spanking, spruce, fine, jolly; as A spanking Lass.
1772. Bridges, Burlesque Homer, 501 (Farmer). A table … Whereon she placed a spanking dish.
1780. in W. Beckford, Italy (1834), I. 16. This worthy dignitary … enjoys a spanking revenue.
1791. O’Keeffe, Wild Oats, IV. i. Now for a spanking lie, to continue her in the belief that Jack is the man she thinks him.
1837. Miss Mitford, Country Stories (1850), 118. We must see what can be done for that boy—he’s a fine spanking fellow.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, iv. 40. We’ll have some spanking sport.
2. Of horses; esp. in later use: Moving or travelling at a rapid pace and in a smart and vigorous manner. (Cf. SPANK v.2 1 b.)
1738. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), II. 167. He goes by the Name of Spanking Roger.
1802. G. Colman, Poor Gentleman, IV. i. There are four spanking greys … here, that shall whisk us to town in a minute.
1853. Sala, About Shrimpington, 110. As the ‘spanking tits,’ which … were on this occasion more ‘spanked’ themselves than ‘spanking,’ clattered along.
1897. W. H. Thornton, Remin. of West-Co. Clergym., iii. 96. We had a spanking sixteen-hands-high mare in a dogcart.
b. Of persons: Dashing, lively, boisterous.
1801. Mar. Edgeworth, Mlle. Panache, II. Wks. 1832, III. 254. This spanking horsewoman has frightened us all out of our senses.
3. Of a breeze: Blowing strongly or briskly; rattling.
1849. Cupples, Green Hand, ii. (1856), 23. They … struck up the ‘Buffalo,’ that finest of chants for the weather forecastle with a spanking breeze.
1862. Lond. Rev., 16 Aug., 139. We are rushing through the water with a spanking breeze on our quarter.
1888. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 14 Aug., 1/2. Spanking Breeze for the Yachts.
4. Of a pace, rate, etc.: Rapid, smart, vigorous.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, I. v. The wheelers in a spanking trot, and leaders cantering.
1882. Serjt. Ballantine, Exper., xxiii. 230. We went at a spanking pace until suddenly brought to a stand-still.
1899. F. T. Bullen, Log Sea-waif, 39. A large canoe well-manned with negro policemen, under a white sergeant, was coming off to us at a spanking pace.
fig. 1858. Bailey, Age, 61. He lives at what folks call a spanking rate.
Hence Spankingly adv., at a spanking pace; in a rapid and smart manner.
1803. R. Couper, Tourifications, II. 16. A country lad, mounted on a spirited pretty galloway, came spankingly along.
1830. Fraser’s Mag., II. 439. The time put on his seven-leagued boots, and went spankingly away so rapidly that [etc.].
1866. Lond. Rev., 23 June, 697/1. You are told how his reverence rode spankingly to church.
