Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a deceased person.

1975

E. Torres Carlito’s Way 13: The fuckin’ police only want to know you as one of two ‘de’s’ — de deceased or de defendant.

2. a defendant.

1975

E. Torres Carlito’s Way 13: The fuckin’ police only want to know you as one of two ‘de’s’ — de deceased or de defendant.