go-fast

The compound 'go-fast' is a modern English formation from two fundamental Germanic verbs. The literal meaning, "to proceed rapidly," is transparent from its components. In the late 20th century, this descriptive phrase was lexicalized as a noun, first applied to high-speed boats used in illicit drug trafficking, their primary characteristic being their ability to 'go fast' to evade authorities. By metonymy, the term was then extended to the primary cargo of such vessels: stimulant drugs that produce a sensation of speed and heightened energy in the user.

Structure: go (verb) + fast (adjective) 'go' originates from Old English 'gān', meaning to advance or proceed. 'fast' originates from Old English 'fæst', meaning firm, fixed, or secure, with its sense of rapid motion developing from the idea of holding firmly to a course.