dry shave, v.² — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

dry shave v.²

[orig. a milit. punishment; men who had failed to shave adequately were roughly shaved on the parade-ground without benefit of soap or water]

to carry out an act of ‘effrontery’ (F&H) whereby one rubs the knuckles hard across one’s victim’s skull or chin.

1889–90		Barrère & Leland Dict. of Sl., Jargon and Cant.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.