licking, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

licking n.

1. a beating.

1756		W. Toldervy Hist. of the Two Orphans II 151: But dam’n, I gave him such a licking, I question whether he didn’t carry some of the bruises with’n to the grave.
c.1800		‘Naval Victories’ in Holloway & Black (1979) II 163: Their whiskers were singed by bold Drake brave and steady, / Just to save them a licking at Tilbury Fort.
1812		Mr. Lawson ‘Chaunt’ in Egan Boxiana I 478: His honors to the last he bore, / But never bore a licking.
1820		W. Combe Doctor Syntax, Consolation (1868) 173/1: In vulgar terms, he’d had his licking, / Not with Ma’am’s cuffs, but by her kicking.
1825		T.C. Croker Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland (1862) 103: Were n’t them the fellows we gave such a licking.
1832		J.K. Paulding Westward Ho! I 77: Why, the year you got such a licking from the Yankee pedlar at Pittsburg.
1838		J.C. Neal Charcoal Sketches (1865) 46: I promised, when I cotch’d him, to give him a licking.
1842		‘French Claim’ in Amer. National Song Book II 222: He vow’d by the great horn spoon / Unless they did the thing that was right, / He’d give them a licking, and that pretty soon.
1849		Sam Sly 7 Apr. 2/1: [H]e will have her big, Irishman give him a licking.
1858		A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 67: You may go if you like [...] only it’s all found out before this; and won’t you get a licking — rather!
1861		Hills & Plains 2 151: The most infernal licking he ever had in his life.
1866		Wild Boys of London I 24/1: I’d make yer fight, and give yer such an awful licking as yer mother wouldn’t know yer.
1871		London Figaro 22 Apr. n.p.: ‘Public School’ etc. Various punishments that, in schoolboy language, are called ‘woppings,’ ‘lickings,’ and ‘spankings’ [F&H].
1873		‘Cuthbert Bede’ Little Mr. Bouncer 17: If some feller would give him a good licking [...] it would be a public benefit.
1882		‘F. Anstey’ Vice Versa (1931) 73: I’ll give you the very juiciest licking you ever had in your life.
1884		Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday 21 June 62/2: [He] found the troublesome stranger ‘waiting outside’ for him, ready to give him a ‘licking’.
1888		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Robbery Under Arms (1922) 12: I’ve often wished I’d defied father, then taken my licking, and bolted away from home.
1895		E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden Explains 82: I treatened t’ give her a good lickin for it.
1907		W.M. Raine Bucky O’Connor (1910) 71: I expect he needed that licking all right I saved him from.
1911		Gem 16 Sept. 1: If we don’t get in pretty soon, we shall get a licking instead of lines.
1918		J.E. Rendinell diary 12 June in One Man’s War (1928) 110: Gee, sister, we sure did give Fritz a good licking.
1922		E. Raymond Tell England (1965) 63: You, who can take a licking so plucklily, ought to face bad luck in a less cowardly fashion.
1934		H. Roth Call It Sleep (1977) 88: Wadda lickin’ you god!
1941		N. Davis ‘Don’t Give Your Right Name’ in Goulart (1967) 37: [heading] Lily Takes a Licking.
1950		‘Hal Ellson’ Tomboy (1952) 19: If you don’t jump, I’ll come and push you off [...] And give you a licking for good measure.
1962		C. Perry Portrait of a Young Man Drowning (1963) 31: You ought to give him a licking.
1971		B. Moyers Listening to America 370: I just wish we could get some of that kind of licking for kids today.
1992		Dennis the Menace Annual 78: I’ll give those softies a good licking!

2. a defeat.

1867		J. Greenwood Unsentimental Journeys 119: I’ll tell you what is the licking of me, and has been for the past three months. It’s that there hobnoxious bill.
1915		Drew & Evans Grafter (1922) 46: ‘Jinker could give most of them a day’s start and a licking’.
1936		Hotspur 11 Jan. 54: ‘What’s the idea?’ he roared. ‘Can’t you let your boy take a licking.’.
1952		Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 221: Incumbent Republicans got panicky and threw their Mayor overboard, nominating a clergyman to run in 1951. Reverend Daniel A. Poling took a licking.

In compounds

licking-match (n.)

(W.I.) a brawl.

1907

W. Jekyll Jam. Song and Story 46: They made a bargain between themselves that, when the Ratta deep in dancing, Doba must out the lamp, then the licking-match commence [DJE].