Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a Native American.

1866		W. Hilleary diary 30 Mar. in A Webfoot Volunteer (1965) 173: There were numerous horns of cattle and their bones lying around thickly which indicated that ‘Lo’ and his family had been.
1873		Forest and Stream 13 Nov. 211/2: Is it longer a matter of astonishment that the Lo’s are passing so rapidly from the face of the earth? [DA].
c.1880		‘The Alphabet Poem’ [US Army poem] L is Poor Lo, whose bravery is never in doubt.
1906		A. Adams ‘In the Hands of His Friends’ in Cattle Brands 🌐 Miller, noticing it, ordered the Indian war-dance as given by the Cheyennes [...] we ki-yied as we had witnessed Lo in the dance on festive occasions.
1912		F.J. Haskin Amer. Government 86: The result is that Lo is given to understand that no amount of false swearing will serve to disprove his signature [DA].
1923		J.L. Hill Cattle Trail 18: At times poor Lo suffered grievous wrongs at their hands [HDAS].
1931		R.G. Carter On The Border With Mackenzie 58: This new Colonel [...] sent rifles and shot-guns to the rear to rust in their covers until that larger and more troublesome game, ‘Lo, the poor Indian,’ should be sought and conquered.
1947		R.P.T. Coffin Yankee Coast 220: He caught a cold in captivity, [...] succumbed and went to join Lo, the Poor Indian on the Happy Hunting Grounds [DA].
1990		Crow Dog & Erdoes Lakota Woman 113: A government lawyer decided to do something for ‘Lo, the poor Indian.’ [...] Poor benighted Mr. Lo was to have the blessings of democracy bestowed upon him.