Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. of individuals, respected, important.

1860		R.S. Surtees Plain or Ringlets? (1926) 105: ‘Bless you, Wanless is one of the largest men in the city of London [...] I’m dashed if I had half his means’.
1914		Bulletin (Sydney) 2 July 18/4: The Joynton Smiths were present (he is something large in connection with the hospital, and an M.L.C. in his spare time).
1972		Hall & Adelman Gentleman of Leisure 15: They have a mental thing about how large they are.
1995		G. Pelecanos Down by the River 65: That boy just wants to be large [...] Always wantin’ to be like some movie star, ride around in a limousine.
2000		W.D. Myers 145th Street ‘Monkeyman’ in 77: [A] lot of kids were [...] trying to make themselves large by going to wack city and offing somebody.

2. (US campus) enjoyable, fine.

1890		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 4 Jan. 7/1: [headline] The Large Time the Boys had During the Week [...] Enlivening and Exciting Scenes.
1896		W.C. Gore Student Sl. in Cohen (1997) 21: large a. Fine, pleasant. ‘It’s a large day.’.
1914		E. Pugh Cockney At Home 69: These here crowded honeymoons is all very fine and large, but they make you wish you was very dead nex’ day.
1914		Sport (Adelaide) 3 July 4/2: Fat Mick [...] off to the City again last Sunday. Must be having a large time down there, eh?

3. (US black) of inanimate objects, experiences, successful, exciting.

1924		Hecht & Bodenheim Cutie 48: You have had a large evening and there’s no use trying to stage an encore at this hour.
1930		J.A. Russell ‘Colgate University Sl.’ in AS V:3 239: Large: very active. ‘That was a large evening.’.
1958		M.A. Crane ‘Miscellany’ in AS XXXIII:3 225: Among nonhipsters, the most widespread of all hip expressions are those expressing warm approval: [...] large, huge, and magnanimous.
1989		Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 5: large – big, good, fun. ‘We had a large time in Key West.’.
1991		N. George ‘Michael Bivins’ in Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994) 66: A high-spirited boastfest of [...] talking about how large they are.
1996		N. Blincoe ‘Ardwick Green’ in Champion Disco Biscuits (1997) 7: ‘How was last night?’ ‘Fucking large, mate.’.

4. (US teen) impressive.

1991		Cooper & Wright New Jack City [film script] The shit [i.e. crack] is large.
2001		Guardian G2 3 Aug. 3: They was ... the nuts [...] crovey, heavy, large.