Flog, subs. (American thieves’).—1. A whip. A contraction of Flogger
(q.v.). To flog (now recognised), is cited by B. E. (1690), Grose, and
the author of Bacchus and Venus as Cant.
To be flogged at the tumbler, verb. phr. (old).—To be whipped at the
cart’s tail. See Tumbler.
1690. B. E., New Dict. of the Canting Crew.
To flog the dead horse, verb. phr. (common).—1. To work up an interest
in a bygone subject; to try against heart; to do with no will nor
liking for the job. [Bright said that Earl Russell’s Reform Bill was a
dead horse (q.v.), and every attempt to create enthusiasm in its favour
was flogging the dead horse.]