To scold, to abuse, to beat.

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1845.  We know a mother who never allows a tailor to come near her children,—she is afraid he will “give ’em fits.”—St. Louis Reveille, July 28.

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a. 1848.  Either flax out your opponent, or give nature special fits in the undertaking.—Dow, Jun., ‘Patent Sermons,’ i. 54.

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1851.  

        Our gallant Taylor is no fool,
Semper paratus—ever cool;
He ’s given the Mexicans to their pain,
Such charming fits, and will again.
Knick. Mag., xxxvii. 102 (Jan.).    

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1862.  

        Ez long ’z he gives the Hessians fits, committees can’t make bother
’bout whether ’t ’s done the legle way or whether ’t ’s done the tother.
Lowell, ‘Biglow Papers,’ 2nd Series, No. 3.    

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1866.  It’s good Buncombe to have a scape-goat! Mr. Buncombe can go home and say, “Didn’t I give them Quartermasters and Commissaries fits?”—C. H. Smith, ‘Bill Arp,’ p. 69.

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1871.  I rather guess as how the ole man Bosaw will give pertickeler fits to our folks to-day.—E. Eggleston, ‘The Hoosier School-master,’ p. 101. (N.E.D.)

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