Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to thrash, to flog.

1837–8		‘The Mot Is On The Turf Again’ in Cuckold’s Nest 28: Here man keeps close behind her tail [...] And he swears he will well hide her, / Unless she picks a kiddy up, / To pay her well to ride her.
1853		Dickens ‘Slang’ in Household Words 24 Sept. 75/2: For the verb to beat I can at once find [...] to hide, to tan, to larrup [etc.].
1859, 1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc.
1868		Cassell’s Mag. May, 80: [...] some said that Kavanagh and his friends were coming over to hide Jacky after dinner [F&H].
1885		Punch 29 Aug. 98: And the silver-topped rattan with which the boys I used to hide [F&H].
1900		Marvel 29 May 2: The boss had been hiding a little chap.