Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a boxer, occas. wrestler, usu. one who is both large and stupid.

1923		D. Runyon in Altoona Tribune (PA) 10 Apr. 13/1: ‘Palooka’ is a new word, much used lately, to describe what was formerly called a ‘hitout,’ a ‘set-up’, a ‘sucker,’ a ‘bohunk,’ a pushover. All of these words mean a very poor fighter. The origin of ‘palooka’ is unknown.
1927		D. Hammett ‘The Big Knockover’ Story Omnibus (1966) 304: I’m ashamed of him [...] Letting himself be stopped by a palooka who leads with his right.
1928		Sioux City Jrnl (IO) 28 July 4/2: This John Public, in prize fight parlance, has been a paluka for some years. He was a set up and then some.
1935		(con. 1920s) J.T. Farrell Judgement Day in Studs Lonigan (1936) 568: Dismissed by his kid brother, the same way Jack Sharkey would dismiss some broken-down palooka who didn’t count.
1936		A.J. Querle ‘Allah il Allah!’ 8: And then some poluka ’way in Europe went and bumped off a grand-duke.
1939		P. Cheyney Don’t Get Me Wrong (1956) 16: A dirty little palooko with a three days’ growth of beard.
1947		B. Schulberg Harder They Fall (1971) 174: I’ve seen beautiful gymnasium fighters look like palookas in the ring.
1952		W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 15: He found him in a stinking gymnasium, smoking a big black cigar and grimacing in disgust at the antics of a couple of sad-looking palookas.
1987		(con. 1967) Bunch & Cole Reckoning for Kings (1989) 20: ‘Joe Palookas,’ Shannon scoffed. ‘Nobody fights like that.’.
1993		Tarantino & Avery Pulp Fiction [film script] 30: I ain’t your friend, palooka.
2004		A. Kleinzahler Cutty one Rock (2005) 165: He threw some big palooka who was beating up his girlfriend through the plate-glass window.
2011		T. Fox Irish of N.J. 23: Though often reckless, Mickey was never a palooka and learned from every opponent he faced.
2018		(con. 1963) L. Berney November Road 242: Joey Won’t Shut Up and Shelley the Broken-Down Palooka.

2. a large and stupid person; also attrib.

1930		K. Brush Young Man of Manhattan 101: Well, the big palookas [...] why the hell don’t they look where they’re going.
1934		B. Appel Brain Guy (2005) 203: Ever see anything like it, those four palooks like monitors, so serious?
1939		J. Weidman What’s In It For Me? 79: I decided to make the most of my advantage over the other palookas.
1941		A. Lomax Mister Jelly Roll (1952) 139: Sure, there is no worry about playing with a palooka like that.
1951		Green & Laurie Show Biz from Vaude to Video 570: Palooka – an oaf.
1969		N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 59: He’s leader of the pack. Eddie Cochran, no punk or palooka of ’59.
1975		Sepe & Telano Cop Team 42: You avoid being a palooka [...] That’s the first lesson I learned [as a policeman].
1979		F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 120: Yes, you, you ugly palooker.
1986		S. King It (1987) 515: He was like one of those inflatable Joe Palooka dolls with sand in the base.
1989		R.G. Barrett Boys from Binjiwunyawunya 269: It would be nice to take out his ag on the two big palookas.
1994		G. Indiana Rent Boy 56: Stanley, who’s just standing around with a big palooka grin.
1999		Guardian Weekend 19 June 26: That these palookas ended up healthy, wealthy and wise reinforces it.
2011		L. Karp Perilous Conception 134: I can handle a palooka like him in my sleep.
2012		(con. 1943) G.S. Manson Coorparoo Blues [ebook] ‘I got your number, wise-ass.’ ‘I didn’t think ya could count, ya palooka!’.

3. a person, irrespective of size or intelligence.

1937

P. Cheyney Dames Don’t Care (1960) 91: It’s stickin’ out a mile that this palooka ain’t got any cause to commit suicide.

4. a bodyguard; a thug.

1999

N. Stephenson Cryptonomicon 383: Three Latino men: a middle-aged fellow of great importance, a somewhat younger assistant, and a palooka.