Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. the beginning, the start.

1875		Punch 27 Feb. 88/2: Sir H. James asked the Attorney-General three questions, by way of kick-off .
1918		‘Bartimeus’ Long Trick 40: ‘That’s my line of business — Fritz-hunting [...] Been at it from the kick-off’.
1919		D. Runyon in Pittsburg Press (PA) 27 June 14/2: Dempsey will lug the battle to Willard right from the kick-off.
1923		Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves 174: I had purposely timed myself to arrive not long before the kick-off.
1930		K.S. Prichard Haxby’s Circus 276: A sympathetic and interested audience waited [...] to give the new show a good kick-off.
c.1940–5		‘Myles na gCopaleen’ Best of Myles (1968) 233: The actual symphony concert range is a strictly ding-dong limited list for a kick-off.
1949		Wodehouse Mating Season 11: A willowy fugure come bounding on [...] shortly after the kick-off.
1953		I. Hamilton Till Human Voices Wake Us 74: The handling [...] of the whole conchie business, right from the kick-off, had been an outstanding case of blunder.
1953		A. Buckeridge Jennings’ Diary 106: We’ll have to have some provisions for a kick-off.
1962		R. Cook Crust on its Uppers 34: It meant charvering Mrs. Marengo for a kick-off.
1967		J. Wynnum I’m a Jack, All Right 102: Goodoh for a kickoff [...] What is the main course.
1972		Galton & Simpson ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Morning’ Steptoe and Son [TV script] Hurry up, kick-off’s [of a funeral] in half an hour.
1983		J. Byrell (con. 1959) Up the Cross 168: [T]hat was only the kick-off to his latest bout of strife.
1986		F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 293: I had to borrow twenty-five quid off me best mate half an hour before the kick-off [i.e. a wedding ceremony] to buy a ring at Woolie’s.
1996		J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers xix: A matter of minutes before the kick-off [i.e. of a horserace], The Flea was over at the Paddock ring.
2001		N. Barlay Hooky Gear 123: Meantime I’ll wedge you up. Even sort you out some new garms for kick-off.
2005		E. Weiner Big Boat to Bye-Bye 276: I’m standing at the kickoff of my whole moral education.
2007		N. ‘Razor’ Smith Raiders 277: It was only ten minutes away from kick-off.

2. a fight.

1937		C. Drew ‘Order of the Mallet’ in Bulletin 28 Apr. 4/1: We didn’t intend to make the mistake of matchin’ him with someone who would cut him to ribbons for his first kick-off.
2013		Guardian 11 Dec. 31/1: I didn’t feel safe when I first went in {prison]. I felt really scared. Every five minutes there was a kick-off ( scuffle).