EXPEDITATION, in the forest-laws, signifies a cutting out the balls of a dog's fore-feet for the preservation of the king's game.
Every one that keeps any great dog not expedited forfeits three shillings and fourpence to the king. In mastiffs, not the ball of the feet, but the three claws, are to be cut to the skin. Instit. part iv. p. 308.
This expeditation was to be performed once in every three years, and was done to every man's dog who lived near the forest, and even the dogs of the foresters themselves.