Black wood hit hard (4)

I believe the answer is:

bash

'hit hard' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'black wood' is the wordplay.
'black' becomes 'b' (as in pencil classifications).
'wood' becomes 'ash' (wood from an ash tree).
'b'+'ash'='BASH'

(Other definitions for bash that I've seen before include "Dent - party" , "Criticise -- social gathering" , "crash > party" , "Party - punch" , "Batter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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