Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. US) a ukelele.

1923		O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 22 May [synd. col.] The ‘gold diggers’ are thrumming a new song on their ukes.
1934		‘J.M. Hall’ Anecdota Americana II 97: He needs no pianist / No uke, drum, or harp.
1946		S. Jackson Indiscreet Guide to Soho 55: Bring out a uke and a Tessie O’Shea routine.
1953		J. Thompson Savage Night (1991) 105: A punchy booze-stupe without enough guts to string a uke.
1960		N. Hilliard Maori Girl 85: We had a uke and steel guitar.
1972		(con. 1916) G. Swarthout Tin Lizzie Troop (1978) 124: Accompanying himself on his uke.
1985		J. Wambaugh Secrets of Harry Bright (1986) 102: ‘Never saw a uke with eight strings.’ Then he strummed it a few times.
2005		J. Stahl I, Fatty 171: I grabbed the instrument [...] ‘Leave now [...] and you can have the uke.’.