Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. clever, knowing.

1843		Bell’s Life in London 2 July 2/5: A murmer was heard from all classes and ranks, / ‘What a wide-awake covey is Stunning Joe Banks’.
1856		‘A Harassing Painsworth’ in Yates & Brough (eds) Our Miscellany 26: Blueacre delighted to hear himself designated as the Stunning Cracksman.
1857		‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue.

2. excellent, first-rate.

1837–8		‘The Fine Young Common Prostitute’ in Cuckold’s Nest 41: One night, she met a cove / Who nearly cracked her bum, / Because he really had, O dear, / Such a stunning rum ti-tum.
1842		J. Labern Comic Songs 6: [song title] The Stunning Meat Pie.
1852		‘The Cadger’s Ball’ in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 147: They all declar’d, so help their never, / They’d vind up vith a stunnin’ ball!
1854		Delhi Sketch Bk 1 Mar. 31/2: I noted down several of their devotional expressions [...] Bosh, Jolly, Larky, Muff, Spoony, Spicy, Nobby, Stunning, Clipping, &c.
1856		Melbourne Punch 20 Nov. 3/3: ‘Proposals for a New Slang Dictionary’ [...] O.K. —Adj. To rights, proper, stunning, of the right sort, prime, all serene, crummy, some, out-an-out, scrumtious, &c, of the initials of the old English words, Orle Korrect.
1861		Leeds Times 2 Feb. 6/3: 'Stunning weeds,' said the tourist, who was a Londoner, and flippant in his speech.
1863		Story of a Lancashire Thief 8: I’d been a prig for a year, and not particular to what I boned, though I hadn’t gone in for any very stunning job.
1878		C. Hindley Life and Times of James Catnach 361: A ‘stunning good murder’ did not happen every day.
1881-2		T.B. Reed Fifth Form at St Dominic’s (1890) 52: ‘I say [...] we shall have a stunning paper’.
1888		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Robbery Under Arms (1922) 127: After the witnesses had said all they knew our lawyer got up and made a stunning speech.
1893		‘Oliver Optic’ Fighting Joe (1911) 13: You are a stunning good fellow.
1900		Boy’s Own Paper 20 Oct. 35: Mortimer placed a good-sized stone at each corner [...] to give it a really stunning effect.
1911		Gem 30 Sept. 21: So it is, splendid – in fact, stunning!
1922		E. Dyson Missing Link 🌐 Ch. iii: By Jo-o-ve! [...] that’s a stunnin’ make-up, old chap—what? Nevah saw a bettah, by gad.
1942		Whizzbang Comics 32: ‘It’s simply stunning!’ cried Dick.
2000		M. Amis Experience 352: It seemed a stunning sum.
2003		K. Cage Gayle 96/2: stunning adj. fabulous (The movie was stunning).

3. very attractive.

1836		‘Ax My Eye’ in New Cockalorum Songster in Spedding & Watt (eds) Bawdy Songbooks (2011) II 25: I sports a hellish swellish / Coat [...] and a slashing dashing, / Stunning pair o’ pickling tubs.
1841		‘Ax My Eye’ Dublin Comic Songster 101: [as 1836].
1846		Swell’s Night Guide 60: An out-and-outer she is to go and no mistake, a rattling piece and a stunning charver, s’elp my never.
1857		T. Hughes Tom Brown’s School-Days (1896) 188: What stunning binding! why your school-books look like novels.
1863		T. Taylor Ticket-Of-Leave Man Act II: Best put me in charity leathers at once, with a muffin cap and badge; wouldn’t I look stunnin’? Oh my!
1893		W.K. Post Harvard Stories 108: You did look stunning in those red tights, even more fetching than you are now in those pajamas.
1907		Marvel 2 Feb. 47: She’s just stunning!
1913		E.L. Warnock ‘Terms of Approbation And Eulogy’ in DN IV:i 23: stunning. Stylish, splendid [...] ‘You look stunning this morning.’.
1920		R. Lardner Big Town 68: ‘What is he like?’ says Katie. ‘He’s stunning,’ said the wife.
1953		Kramer & Karr Teen-Age Gangs 129: I need a new outfit, I agree. Fact is, I got my eye on a very stunny ensemble.
1971		letter in M. Amis Experience (2000) 251: I saw two stunning Blenheims the other day – R[osie] should definitely have one for her 2nd husband.
1999		Guardian G2 24 June 9: Everything faded to elephant’s breath colour. totally stunning!