Green’s Dictionary of Slang

very little warning before attaching someone, nothing but a ‘blow and a word’.

1850		Bell’s Life in Sydney 5 Jan. 3/2: Mr. C [...] pitched into him. Downey, most unmercifully, giving him only Scarborough warning, a blow and a word.
1852		Bell’s Life in Sydney 20 Nov. 3/2: [He] pitched into the fond father right and left, without giving him any but a ‘Scarborough warning, a word and a blow ’.