Wordnet 3.0
ADVERB (2)
1. 
 to extremes; 
- Example: "he went overboard to please his in-laws"2. 
 from on board a vessel into the water; 
- Example: "they dropped their garbage overboard"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Overboard \O"ver*board`\, adv.
   Over the side of a ship; hence, from on board of a ship, into
   the water; as, to fall overboard.
   [1913 Webster]
   To throw overboard, to discard; to abandon, as a dependent
      or friend.
   To go overboard, to go to an extreme; to overdo; as, he
      went overboard at the buffet and got an upset stomach.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
overboard
    adv 1: to extremes; "he went overboard to please his in-laws"
    2: from on board a vessel into the water; "they dropped their
       garbage overboard"