Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. something exceptional, usu. in terms of strength.

1823		J.F. Cooper Pioneers (1827) II 54: It’s a peeler without, I can tell you, good woman.
1837		R.M. Bird Nick of the Woods I 124: He’s a peeler at run, trot, or gallop, he is, I tell you!
1845		C.M. Kirkland Western Clearings 74: We’re goin’ straight to a bee-tree [...]. It’s a real peeler, I tell ye! [DA].
1864		in R.G. Carter Four Brothers in Blue (1978) 3 July 452: The hat is a banger; a peeler.
1871		H.B. Stowe Sam Lawson’s Oldtown Fireside Stories (1881) 239: This ’ere hoss was a peeler, I’ll tell you!
1884		E. Nye Baled Hay 134: A regular old ring-tail peeler of an editorial.

2. someone exceptional.

1833		C.A. Davis Letters of Major J. Downing (1835) 63: That ’ere Josslin is a real peeler in the way of bringing folks up!
1844		‘Jonathan Slick’ High Life in N.Y. I 214: Sam’s fust book was a peeler.
1860		T. Haliburton Season Ticket 10: You would have seen a peeler, I tell you – a rael corn-fed gall.
1869		H.B. Stowe Oldtown Folks 117: She was spoken of with applause under such titles as ‘a staver,’ ‘a pealer,’ ‘a roarer to work’.
1882		W.M. Thayer From Log-Cabin 198: He’s a peeler for work too; ain’t afraid to dirty himself [DA].