overhaul

Etymology

over- + haul.

noun

1. A major repair, renovation, or revision.
   The engine required a complete overhaul to run properly.
   One aim of the move [from Nine Elms] had been to speed up the overhaul of the company's locomotive stock and to reduce costs with more efficient workshop facilities, in what Dugald Drummond claimed to be "the most complete and up-to-date works owned by any railway company". 1961 March, C.P. Boocock, “The organisation of Eastleigh Locomotive Works”, in Trains Illustrated, page 159
   Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming, […]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul. Instead it offers fixes and patches. 2013-06-28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21
2. (firefighting) The process after the fire appears extinguished in which the firefighters search the structure for signs of hot spots that may cause the structure to reignite. Often this includes the process of salvage under the blanket term, salvage and overhaul.

verb

1. To modernize, repair, renovate, or revise completely.
   While the engines are dealt with in the diesel shop, their parent locomotives are overhauled in the erecting shop. 1961 March, C. P. Boocock, “The organisation of Eastleigh Locomotive Works”, in Trains Illustrated, page 159
   In his senior year, he had run across an old '66 Chevy Super Sport headed for the junkyard, bought it for a song, and overhauled it with his dad's help, turning it into the big red muscle car it was back in its day. 2011, Kat Martin, A Song for My Mother, Vanguard Press
   Although they believe they can overhaul their 2-0 deficit, they cannot afford to be as lethargic as this at Camp Nou, and the time is surely approaching when Manuel Pellegrini's faith in Martín Demichelis wavers. 9 March 2014, Jacob Steinberg, “Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals”, in The Guardian
2. To pass, overtake, or travel past.
   In theory there was a runner ahead of him who would pause to sleep. Who would falter and fall. Who would despair at the size of the desert. Because Logan did none of these he would overhaul the runner and kill him. 1967, William F. Nolan, George Clayton Johnson, Logan's Run, May 1976 Bantam edition, page 109
   The slowing New Jersey has veered out of line, and is forced to check its fire briefly as Iowa overhauls it, but then resumes fire as damage-control crews work hard below. Admiral Lee's other two ships, coming up behind, take Yamato under fire with their forward guns as well. 5 May 2021, Drachinifel, 37:11 from the start, in Battle of Samar - What if TF34 was there?, archived from the original on 2022-08-08
3. (nautical) To keep (running rigging) clear, and see that no hitch occurs.
4. (transitive) To search (a ship) for contraband goods.