Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) vicious, thuggish.

1979		‘Iceberg Slim’ Airtight Willie and Me 72: The cruellest, ass-kicking nigger pimp that ever fell out of a cunt.
1993		Tarantino & Avery Pulp Fiction [film script] 30: Butch is snapped out of his ass-kicking thoughts.
1999		Guardian Guide 17–23 July 19: It’s geezers-in-space time for [...] a cast of ass-kicking pensioners in Space Cowboys.
2003		P. Cornwell Blow Fly (2004) 11: A real ass-kicking little hombre.