Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a general form of address, usu. to a woman.

1885		Edinburgh Eve. News 9 Feb. 3/1: Several addressed her in singular terms, as ‘My dear old Catamaran,’ ‘My darling Tootes,’ etc.
1894		Truth (Sydney) 15 Apr. 4/6: He says to Toots, / ‘You stole my boots’.
1912		Ade Knocking the Neighbors 93: [He] called her ‘Toots’ — a Term of Endearment which had been rusting on the Shelf ever since they used it at Niagara Falls.
1929		H.C. Witwer Yes Man’s Land 311: Don’t ask me how it works, tots.
1933		Cliff Edwards ‘Come Up and See Me Sometime’ 🎵 Come up and see me sometime, will you, toots? Hmmm?
1942		J. Archibald ‘Knife Thrower’ in Popular Detective June 🌐 [to a man] Say, you look familiar yourself, Toots.
1942		R. Chandler High Window 182: I don’t give one little flash in hell about you any more. Not any more, Toots, not any more.
1946		R.L. Bellem ‘Homicide Surprise’ in Speed Detective Feb. 🌐 “Okay, Tutz. A moment ago you said you weren’t in pictures but would like to be.
1952		(con. 1920) G. Fowler Schnozzola 39: I would call her ‘Toots’ and she would call me ‘Tootis.’.
1968		I. Reed Free-Lance Pallbearers 26: Take it easy, toots.
1978		P. Theroux Picture Palace 61: Hi toots!
1989		H. Harrison Bill [...] on the Planet of Robot Slaves (1991) 176: Love play, toots – and it gets better.
1999		Indep. Rev. 21 May 14: Steady with yer psychic aura Toots.

2. a girl or girlfriend.

1938		W. Winchell On Broadway 23 Aug. [synd. col.] George Hale’s new toots is Elizabeth McGregor, 1937’s Miss Florida.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).