Energy.
1850. He thought of his spurs, so he ris up, an’ drove them vim in his hoss’s flanx, till they went through his saddle-blanket, and like to bored his nag to the holler.—H. C. Lewis (‘Madison Tensas’), ‘Odd Leaves,’ p. 51 (Phila.). (Italics in the original.) [Here the word means energetically.]
1850. See DOGGERY.
1875. Mr. Fullerton [at the Beecher-Tilton trial] figuratively jumped into the ring, rolled up his sleeves, and squared off with a vim and determination that sometimes makes victory half assured.—N.Y. Herald, April 17 (Bartlett).
1876. We believe that more of vim, snap, or activity can be infused into [our system of school management].—Providence Press, Jan. 8. (The same.)
1888. The children resumed the floor, and danced with renewed vim for an hour or so.—Missouri Intelligencer, March 5 (Farmer).
