Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) to trick with the intention of causing harm.

1797

‘T.B. Junr.’ Pettyfogger Dramatized II i: I must do up Old Crazy, the landlord, and his neighbour. I’ve been giving them papp for some time. [Ibid.] 109: To Give Pap. To inveigle, with a view to destroy.

a kind act performed in an unkind manner, the act of being ‘cruel to be kind’.

1589		Lyly [title] Pappe with an Hatchet.
1593		G. Harvey Pierce’s Supererogation 70: Would God, Lilly had alwaies bene Euphues, and neuer Pap-hatchet; that old acquaintance [...] is neither lullabied with thy sweete Papp, nor scarre-crowed with thy sower hatchet.
1594		Lyly Mother Bombie I iii: They give us pap with a spoone before we can speake, and when we speake for that wee love, pap with a hatchet.
1607		A. Dent The plaine mans path-way to heauen 153: [T]o entrap him, that they might catch aduantage against him, & so cut his throt, & giue him pap with a hatchet.
1615		J. Harington Epigrams n.p.: Learne, learne, to aske your milke, for if you snatch it, / The nurse must send your babes pap with a hatchet.
1620		in A. Niccholes Discourse of Marriage and Wiving 30: He that so old seekes for a nurse so yong, shall haue pap with a Hatchet for his comfort.
1633		W. Ames A fresh suit against human ceremonies 89: [T]hat provision, which is very pap, with a hatchet.
1642		Tom Nash his Ghost [title] Written by Thomas Nash his Ghost, with Pap with a Hatchet, [...] when Martin Mar-Prelate was as mad as any of his Tub-men are now.
1684		Strange and vvonderful news from Nevvberry 1: He dy'd in such a case, / no Death can match it, / A Custard to him was / Pap with a Hatchet.
1719		in D’Urfey Pills to Purge Melancholy IV 329: A Custard was to him Pap with a Hatchet.