expediate

To injure (a dog) by cutting away the pads of the forefeet, thereby preventing it from hunting.

EXPEDIATE—is a term tranſmitted from one book to another by former writers, but is at preſent little uſed in either theory or practice. It implies the cutting out the centrical ball of the foot of a dog, or ſuch claws as ſhall totally prevent his purſuit of game. In earlier times, when the forest laws were more rigidly enforced, the owner of any dog not expediated, living within the diſtrict, was liable to a fine for non-obedience.

Among other liberties, they were permitted to assart their lands in Woodford and many other places, and enclose them with a ditch and low hedge, that they might take of their woods at pleasure; to have the forfeiture of their own men; to hunt the fox, hare, and cat, in the forest; that their dogs should not be expediated†. […] † Expediating dogs, according to the forest laws, signifies to cut out the ball of dogs' fore-feet; the mastiff is to have only the three claws of the fore-foot, on the right side, cut off next the skin, for the preservation of the king's game. Every one that keeps any great dog, not expediated, forfeits 3s. 4d. to the king.

Expeditious.

Misconstruction of expedite.