Green’s Dictionary of Slang

the cost; usu. in phr. what’s the damage? how much is the bill?

1676		Night-Walkers Declaration 8: Since an Embargo is laid on publick Trade, enhance your favours to particular Gallants, to make good the Damage.
1707		Humours of a Coffee-House 13 Aug. 3: What will the Damage be? Perhaps it may a little advance the Price of Patches in Rag-Fair [...] ’Tis a meer Trifle not worth speaking of.
1790		Banquet of Wit 83: [He] called for the waiter ‘there, says he, there’s your damage — thirteen and two pence’.
a.1824		Byron letter to J. Murray in Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (1849) 108: Many thanks, but I must pay the damage and will thank you to tell me the amount of the engraving .
1843		T. Haliburton Sam Slick in England I 126: Sir, what’s the damage?
1853		Bell’s Life in Sydney 27 Aug. 2/7: ‘What’s the damage?’ enquired James. ‘A shilling a dozen,’ replied Crowley.
1858		F.W. Farrar Eric II 217: ‘Stop, I’ll pay,’ said Eric. ‘What’s the damage?’.
1860		Potter Jrnl (Coudersport, PA) 25 Oct. 1/4: [set in London] Let’s hear the damage, and I’ll stump up.
1870		‘Lieutenant O’Bosh’ in Songs for the Army 36: He pull’d out his purse [...] And asked ‘what’s the damage?’.
1880		Bulletin (Sydney) 11 Dec. 4/4: ‘What’s the damage for the lot?
1885		M. Davitt Leaves from a Prison Diary I 45: He would rush into a public-house or gin palace [...] call for a glass of beer or spirits, and pay the ‘damage’ with half a sovereign.
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 22: Damage, ‘What’s the damage?’ how much to pay.
1897		E.W. Townsend Chimmie Fadden 59: ‘Chimmie, would you like a invite t’ de Roseleaf dance?’ he says. See? ‘Why, sure, I says, ‘sure. What’s de damage?’.
1903		Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Nov. 35/2: ‘What’s the damage, mister?’ he asked, as he grabbed for the money.
1910		Sporting Times 1 Jan. 5/1: ‘What’s the damage?’ ‘I’ll have to charge you two shillings for that.’.
1914		Truth (Melbourne) 7 Feb. 10/6: Fifty thick ’uns were the damage.
1917		Sun (NY) 1 July 11/4: The waiter in the clubhouse collected the damages for the drinks.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 218: Blazes Boylan rattled merry money in his trousers’ pocket -What’s the damage? he asked.
1925		Dos Passos Manhattan Transfer 387: ‘What’s the damage?’ the young man asks the counterman.
1935		E.F. Benson Mapp and Lucia (1984) 42: ‘What’s she got to pay you?’ said Irene impatiently. ‘Damage: dibs.’.
1942		R. Chandler High Window 81: A man grabbed me by the arm and said: ‘What’s the damage, Jack?’ I shook his arm off without speaking.
1955		D. Niland Shiralee 40: What’s the damage?
1960		‘Nino Culotta’ Cop This Lot 160: Wot’s the damage?
1963		M. Braly Shake Him Till He Rattles (1964) 50: ‘What’s the damage?’ ‘Twenty a month. Lights are a few dollars more.’.
1978		R. Price Ladies’ Man (1985) 172: I extended her goods. She stuck her nose in the bag. ‘What’s the damages?’.
1986		F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 178: ‘What’s the damage?’ asked Dennis [...] ‘Well, I’ve got to find about eight hundred quid duty before I can reclaim the car.
1996		J. Cameron It Was an Accident 2: Boozer was still there over the road though so I reckoned to get a fucking pint of lager. Jesus they doubled the damage.
2004		Guardian 2 Oct. 24: Tot up the damage: £650 for a Balenciaga handbag; £150 for a pair of Juicy Couture jeans; £10,000 for a Jacob & Co watch.