To chase wild animals into some place where they may be conveniently shot. Hence a DRIVE.
1823. [They] had been in the woods, driving for deer or other game.—Mass. Spy, Dec. 10: from the Elizabeth City Star.
1833. We had agreed to drive.—James Hall, ‘The Harpe’s Head,’ p. 37 (Phila.). (Italics in the original.)
1833. We were soon on foot, moving merrily forward to a small hurricane, which had been agreed upon for a drive.—‘Sketches of D. Crockett,’ p. 196.
1835. Our “driver” with the whole pack, had turned off into the “drive” some time before.—Ingraham, ‘The South-West,’ ii. 137.
1838. The boys were directed how to drive. [They] then commenced driving by whooping and riding about in the swamp, every now and then speaking to and encouraging the dogs.—Caroline Gilman, ‘Recollections of a Southern Matron,’ p. 210.
1853. We must procure all the assistance that we can, and drive every thicket about here.—S. A. Hammett (‘Philip Paxton’), ‘A Stray Yankee in Texas,’ p. 298.
1856. Come up, my men, and get ready for a ‘drive.’ (Note.) This is the hunter’s term for driving deer into the lake with hounds and shooting them in the water.—Knick. Mag., xlviii. 356 (Oct.).
1870. Of David Whitmer little is known. He dropped out of the Mormon community, in one of the “drives” in Missouri, and settled in that State.—J. H. Beadle, ‘Life in Utah,’ p. 26 (Phila., &c.).
