Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to harass, to push around physically, thus rantanning.

1899

Lincs. Chron. 31 Mar. 6/5: Hawkins asked [...] us to come [...] to rantan old Hydes. [...] After the first rantanning we all went over to the Railway Hotel, and in about a quarter of an hour [...] the rtantanning was recommenced [...] I heard someone say ‘What’s this all about?’ Someone said ‘Old Hydes has turned his daughter out and taken another man’s wife.’ I then saw him pushed about.