Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to hit, to beat, lit. and fig.; latterly spec. to defeat.

1594		Lyly Mother Bombie II i: My head is full of hammers, & they haue so maletted my wit, that I am almost a malcontent.
1821		‘Battle’ in Fancy I XVII 401: The combatants could scarcely make up their minds to shake hands, from eagerness to begin malleting.
1847		Bell’s Life in Sydney 2 Jan. 2/3: He malletted Thompson at Windsor - was wallopped by Bill Sparks and now leaves the ring a winner.
1982		in Listener in DSUE (1984).