Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US) to shoot, to wound.

1838		D. Crockett in Meine Crockett Almanacks (1955) 120: Surrender, stranger, or I may perforate ye.
1877		E.L. Wheeler Deadwood Dick in Beadle’s Half Dime Library I:1 80/1: ‘Did I kill the card-sharp?’ ‘No; you simply perforated him in the right side.’.
1878–9		A. Garcia Tough Trip Through Paradise (1977) 101: His comeback would come when he got hold of Betsy Ann, and then he would perforate me with lead.
1890		A.C. Gunter Miss Nobody of Nowhere 27: Young man, I do this to save your life [...] If he stayed out, he’d perforate you sure.
1921		‘Max Brand’ Seventh Man 178: Sliver Waldron would perforate Dan Barry while the latter rolled in the dust.
1931		O. Strange Law O’ The Lariat 140: Yu see what’s come o’ yore foolishness, ridin’ around with a hand; one man dead an’ another perforated.
1940		O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 11: Hold ’em up an’ perforate the first one what pulls a trigger.
1946		C.S. Montanye ‘Don’t Meddle with Murder’ in Thrilling Detective May 🌐 Blasted. Rubbed. Perforated.

2. of a man, to have sexual intercourse with, esp. to take a woman’s virginity.

1937–84

Partridge DSUE (1984) 870/1: C.19–20.