clear, adj.² — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

clear adj.²

1. (US) pure, unadulterated.

1836

T. Haliburton Clockmaker (1843) I 297: A thousand real genuine first chop Havanahs — no mistake — the clear thing.

2. (US gay) exclusively homosexual.

1999

Gaymart.com Queer Sl. in the Gay 90s 🌐 Clear – Exclusively homosexual.

clear grit (n.) [grit n.¹]

1. the real thing, the genuine article; thus be the clear grit, to have genuine spirit or pluck.

1825		J. Neal Brother Jonathan II 14: A chap who was clear grit for a tussle, any time.
1836		T. Haliburton Clockmaker I 124: He’s clear grit – ginger to the backbone.
1844		‘Jonathan Slick’ High Life in N.Y. I 223: ‘Gaully!’ sez I, ‘but you’re clear grit – smart as a steel-trap, aint you?’.
c.1858		J.H. Green Reformed Gambler 165: ‘Well, gentlemen,’ said the drover, ‘I am satisfied that you are the clear grit, and, therefore, we five shall play.’.
1865		G.A. Sala My Diary in America II 140: She was an abolitionist [...] one of the ‘clear grit,’ ‘Delenda est Carthago’ sort.
1876		B. Harte Two Men of Sandy Bar 22: He’s clar [sic] grit all through.
1890		C.W. Haskins Argonauts of Calif. 335: But wasn’t that little Providence chap clear grit, though?
1894		Hope Dispatch (KS) 22 Mar. 3/1: ‘Ain’t I allers tole de folks you was clar grit, honey?’ cried Aunt Deb.

2. attrib. use of sense 1.

1842		Cork Examiner 6 June 4/5: I am a clear grit nigga from de elba to de knee.
1861		N.Y. Trib. 10 Oct. n.p.: A clear-grit Republican convention putting one or two Democrats on the foot of their ticket.