Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. sexual intercourse.

1632		Massinger City-Madam III i: secret: Dead doings, Daughter. shavem: Doings! sufferings mother: Men have forgotten what doing is; And such as have to pay for what they do, Are impotent, or Eunuchs.
1656		Mennis & Smith et al. ‘A Song’ Wit and Drollery 94: There was an old Lad, rode on an old Pad, / Unto an old punk a woing; / He laid the old punk, upon an old trunk, / Oh there was good old doing.
1670		J. Ray Proverbs 52: Courting and wooing brings dallying and doing.
1927		‘J.M. Hall’ Anecdota Americana I 46: ‘Mamie,’ said the old man, ‘ef you hain’t done it, don’t do it, cause this ain’t fer it! This ain’t no doin’ license!’.

2. (UK Und.) a crime, such as a robbery.

1822

Life and Trial of James Mackcoull 71: He declared he would join him in any job in England [...] Mackcoull then suggested to him the doing of the Chester bank.

3. (also doing down) a thrashing, a beating; lit. or fig.

c.1880		‘Taking out the Baby’ [broadside ballad] They had all been taking out the baby, and all had had such a doing – that boy o’ mine nearly busted me [F&H].
1888		Wanganui Herald 18 Feb. 2/9: Poor McAuliffe got such a ‘doing’ from Carney that he has not recovered.
1891		‘’Arry on a ’ouseboat’ in Punch 15 Aug. 77/1: If I don’t give them dashed Norfolk Dumplings a doing, I’ll eat my old ’at.
1895		Coburg Leader (Vic.) 3 Aug. 1/6: Bullm E. got a terrible doing in the Glen Sunday night. Puds gave Bulm such a dressing that his people hardly knew him.
1902		Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Oct. 13/2: The Unco Guid of the wet, kirky, whiskified city of Dunedin (M.L.), recently received a severe ‘doing’ at the hands of Judge Cooper. [...] The Judge said that Dunedin’s reputation for godliness was built up by sweating the tram employees and forcing them to desecrate the Sabbath.
1908		E. Dyson ‘Two Battlers and a Bear’ in Lone Hand (Sydney) Feb. 378/1: ‘’N’ if yeh take my advice, yeh’ll give him ther mother iv er doin’. Spare ther rod ’n’ spoil ther bear’.
1910		H.G. Wells Hist. of Mr Polly (1946) 209: I gave him a bit of a doing altogether.
1914		Truth (Melbourne) 3 Jan. 6/6: All he now knew was that four blackfellows had given him a doing.
1923		Kipling ‘The Janeites’ in Debits and Credits (1926) 164: ’Ammick put me through all the Janeite Degrees, you might say. Never ’ad such a doin’ in my life.
1927		(con. 1835–40) P. Herring Bold Bendigo 91: You’ll have to show better form in the ring, or I shall be giving you a doing down in your own booth.
1932		E. Blair ‘Clink’ in Complete Works X (1998) 259: Chantin’s the game this time of the year. Carols. Fair twist their ’earts round, I can [...] I won’t ’alf give them a doing this Christmas.
1944		J. Cary Horse’s Mouth (1948) 145: Then my mother came and gave me such a doing on both ears that I had to sleep on my back.
1956		‘Charles Raven’ Und. Nights 108: You can hardly suggest to a priest of the Most Holy Roman Catholic Church that he organises the doing of a nark.
1994		I. Welsh ‘The House of John Deaf’ in Acid House 101: It wis some fuckin doin ah goat.
2001		I. Welsh Glue 84: Ehs wee brar thair fancies ehself a buit ay a wide cunt since eh gave one ay the Sutherlands a doin.
2009		L. McIlvanney All the Colours 218: ‘Three guys gave me a doing’.
2012		(con. 1980s) I. Welsh Skagboys 68: Heard the boy, the fitba player, your mate, took a bad doin in the Grapes.
2020		G. Armstrong Young Team 17: He’s awready hud a bit ae a dooin. His jakit is ripped n he’s git blood on his face.