Green’s Dictionary of Slang

blow n.⁶

a damn n.

1916		J. Lait ‘Omaha Slim’ in Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 113: Nobody knows how he’s agonna vote an’ nobody much gives a blow.
1924		S. Scott Human Side of Crook and Convict Life 22: Don’t let ’em see yer gives a blow, or they’ll lam it on yer!