Appears in the Yuan-dynasty zaju 《伍员吹箫》 by 李寿卿: 我便拳撞脚踢，也不怕他不死 — 'I'll punch and kick, not caring if he dies.' The phrase has meant 'physical beating' ever since.
usage
Literal — describes actual physical violence, not metaphorical attacks. Compare with the more figurative 大打出手 (launch an all-out attack), which can be verbal.
