Green’s Dictionary of Slang

socking n.

a beating.

1903		Daily Tel. 19 Jan. ’Police Report’ n.p.: Then, said the witness, occurred the most dreadful socking he had ever seen in the course of a long experience of street rows. It was literally a case of ‘fur and feathers flying’ – the hair was torn... in handfuls from the scalp [F&H].
1930		W.R. Burnett Iron Man 134: He wants you to enter the ring feeling nice and friendly and brotherly so he can give you a good socking.
1931		E.C. Segar ‘Popeye’ Thimble Theatre series No. 1 n.p.: Yer goner get the sockin’ of yer life!