(dated, nautical) The period of work on board ship for which the seamen have been paid in advance (usually a month's wages), the end of this term being celebrated by parading a straw horse about the decks.

plural of dead horse

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of beat a dead horse

past participle of beat a dead horse

(idiomatic) To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.

(Britain, idiomatic) To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more; to attempt to arouse fresh interest in something that is either hopeless or already settled.