Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to suffer a state of deprivation, usu. as perishing for.

1874		‘A.P.’ [Arthur Pember] Mysteries and Miseries 404: ‘I’m not in a perishin to accept your invite to pass the arternoon with yer:—I’m a waitin’ for the boss’.
1896		E. Glanville Kloof Yarns 89: Got a pipe and baccy; I’m just perishing for a smoke.
1936		‘George Orwell’ Keep The Aspidistra Flying (1962) 7: He was perishing for a smoke.
1947		D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 104: I thought you’d be perishing for news.
1954		Townsville Daily Bull. 13 Dec. 7/5: Here was her poor [...] husband perishing for grog on Christmas morning.

2. (Aus.) to cadge.

1903

Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Dec. 32/3: Re record ‘perishes.’ I know a man who lived on his father for 10 years; and the old man was only a little-’un, too!

3. (mainly Aus.) to attack, to punish, to kill.

1934		T. Wood Cobbers 202: Masts and Yards [...] said it would perish the crows.
1975		B. Fuller Ghan 75: I’ll perish you [...] I’ll put a half moon in your belly [AND].