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kill up verb phrase To kill (a person) with certainty; wipe out or decimate (a population). [DARE labels this usage “chiefly South, South Midland”]

1834 Crockett Narrative 52 His [battalion] and the one Russell was now appointed to command, composed a regiment, which [was] to kill up the Indians on the Scamby river. 1863 Woody CW Letter (Feb 15) it lucks like the men is all a going to Dye and Get killd up. 1924 Raine Saddlebags 99 The mountain man uses kill up as Shakespeare does, and also live up, and teach up, as in teach up children to have good manners. 1939 Hall Coll (Oconaluftee NC) We was so interested in getting that brute that was a-(killing our cattle up. 1976 Digging Well 134 If [the well] caves, if they’ve got time they’ll pull you up. If they don’t, they just kill you up.