Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a man of the world.

1859, 1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1873		Sl. Dict.
a.1909		press cutting in J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 132/2: A cove who fancies himself a flag unfurled is very now or never we don’t think.