crack¹ v OED ~ v 22 naut (1840, 1867) for sense 1.
   1 To clap sail on a Vessel and proceed at full speed.
   1842 JUKES i, 1-64 We accordingly crowded all sail, and cracked on with a fresh breeze, urging our way
   through slowly yielding pans, now sailing gallantly through an open lake of water. 1916 MURPHY 46 At length, well on in April, the wind changed and the ice slackened off and let them clear. All the ships then started north and cracked on northward for all they were worth. 1924 ENGLAND 153 One watch to work de canvas an' one to kill swiles. Crack evvery stich o' canvas on 'er, an' wear round. T 178-65 [We] cracked the mainsail on her, single reef mainsail, and come on. 1977 Nfld Qtly Winter, p. 17 The wind was around easter. Still a big swell in the water ... and we put the big mains'le on her again, and took the storm sail we had here and put (it) there for a fores'le, and put the jib and jumbo on her and cracked it to her right for Burin.
   2 To provide liberally; apply vigorously.
   T 156-65 They cracked on a big fire o' birch, and he begin to thaw, and the water begin to run out of un. T 172/3-65 They'd starve their dogs [but] in the spring o' the year they'd crack the food to them and get them back in working condition. 1975 BUTLER 31 But anyway, by gar, 'twas goin' pretty good, big square dance, crackin' right to it.

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