Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a non-specific term of address to a man whose name one does not know.

1958

F. Norman in Sun. Graphic 10 Aug. in Norman’s London (1969) 25: Come along General, I’ll tell ya wot I’ll do wiv ya.

2. (S.Afr. Und.) a high rank in a prison gang.

1980

cited in J. & W. Branford Dict. S. Afr. Eng. (1991).