scragging

Barmy British eccentricity rules the waves once again this Saturday as 16 straining, muscled hearties heave, two tiny coxswains fret and shout and, tradition assures us, Cockney urchins bedecked in blue scuffle alongside on the towpath scragging each other and hollering "C'mon Horx-ferd!" or "C'mon Cym-breege!"

Boat Race still takes British sport's venerable cream cracker | Frank Keating 2011

‘Never mind George Barnwell,’ interrupted Sam, who had remained a wondering listener during this short colloquy; ‘everybody knows what sort of a case his was, tho’ it’s always been my opinion, mind you, that the young ‘ooman deserved scragging a precious sight more than he did.

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club 2007

As he said it, Master Bates caught up an end of his neckerchief; and, holding it erect in the air, dropped his head on his shoulder, and jerked a curious sound through his teeth; thereby indicating, by a lively pantomimic representation, that scragging and hanging were one and the same thing.

Oliver Twist 2007

Since scragging that varmint was a good thing, I figure que c'est la puissance du Bon Dieu, the same sort of energy released from the the Ark of the Covenant in "Raiders."

gender traps in fiction Holly 2005

I reckon I know what is scragging the ponies, but I won't spoil the fun by spilling any beans to your other Gentle Readers.

no no! I can't be writing right now I have to---aaaaiiii! Holly 2005

You should see a Newgate scragging, you poor ignorant abor igine, thinks I.

Flashman on the March Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 2005

Sometimes the jibes spilt over into rough stuff, like shoving when he queued for the water-fountain or hard scragging at football.

At Swim, Two Boys Jamie O’Neill 2002

Sometimes the jibes spilt over into rough stuff, like shoving when he queued for the water-fountain or hard scragging at football.

At Swim, Two Boys Jamie O’Neill 2002

I forget who they hung on the Monday, and it don't matter anyway, but it was the only Newgate scragging I ever saw, and I had an encounter afterwards which is part of my tale.

Flashman's Lady Fraser, George MacDonald, 1925- 1977

I've just got Saleratus Bill for scragging Franklin.

The Rules of the Game Stewart Edward White 1909