Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a chance, a ‘go’.

1801		M. Edgeworth ‘The Orange Man’ in Early Lessons X 44: And if it was, it’s a lucky kick for him, if it keeps him from the gallows.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 3 Nov. 12/2: The MacEacharn turned on plenty of palms, Chinese lanterns and champagne for his ball at the Town Hall on Thursday night, so that everyone voted the last official kick of mayor Mac. a really noble performance.
1908		Magnet 20 June 2: He’s only got a kick or two left.

2. (US) something ironic or elusive, a twist.

1913–14		Van Loan in Taking the Count 117: There was a queer kick to that little show of ours the other night – a few things I haven’t been able to figure out.
1924		P. Marks Plastic Age 101: It’s one of those bedtime stories with a kick.
1960		G. Swarthout Where the Boys Are 21: But, and here’s the kick, they don’t want brains [in young women].

3. a trick, a ‘line’.

1842

in N.E. Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 280: Ludy advertises to keep school and goes a ‘kick’ above everybody else she is to teach Greek and Latin.