Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to tip off, to warn, to inform.

1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 4 Apr. 22/1: Every piece of underwear can be had now, and, added to the lovely hosiery and French corsets, there are vests, drawers, night-shirts, and skirts of every desirable length in every colour, and one has but to word her order to have it filled.
1910		L. Esson Woman Tamer in Ballades of Old Bohemia (1980) 60: You might tell us, Chopsey. Don’t be oyster. I won’t word nobody, not me.
1941		K. Tennant Battlers 151: I word everyone to tell his pals that he’s gone out.
1953		K. Tennant Joyful Condemned 323: I liked Chigger [...] Did you word him about me?
1993		J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 322: One of the little dudes word us he seen you comin cross from Leopard ground, man.

2. (Aus.) to speak to, to accost, to tell, to pass word to, to rebuke or tell off; to pass sentence (see cite 1909).

1904		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 10 Feb. 4/1: [headline] ‘Wording’ the Handicapper.
1906		E. Dyson Fact’ry ’Ands ix: The ‘donahs’ grimacing and giggling, the lads ‘wording ’em’ with labored jocularities.
1909		‘A “Push” Story’ in Bulletin (Sydney) 2 Sept. 17/1: ‘’N’ when does th’ Fine Finger word ’em, Fum ?’ ‘Nex’ Fridee ’e bills ’em f’r th’ jollo’ .
1915		C.J. Dennis ‘A Spring Song’ in Songs of a Sentimental Bloke 14: I ’aven’t got the ’eart / To word a tom.
1917		Feilding Star (N.Z.) 3 Mar. 2/5: A cobber edged along and told him the attendant he had ‘word-ed’ was [...] the general’s missus.
1926		K.S. Prichard Working Bullocks 248: What about wordin’ old Umphelby?
1936		N. Marsh Death in Ecstasy 79: If I worded him maybe he’d talk back like a bud’s guide to society stuff.
1941		K. Tennant Battlers 153: When did you word him?
1951		Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 327: Somebody worded me you was round here in the side lift.
1968		S. Gore Holy Smoke 28: I’ll word yer Mum to slaughter a fatted calf.

3. to make sexual advances, to ‘chat up’.

1910		L. Esson Woman Tamer in Ballades of Old Bohemia (1980) 65: We smothered up the darbies, of course, and started wording the tarts.
1916		C.J. Dennis ‘Duck an’ Fowl’ in Moods of Ginger Mick 19: It’s been man’s leadin soot / Since ’e learned to word a tart an’ make a date.
1985		B. Humphries Traveller’s Tool 35: Word up a bird on the plane.

4. (US black) to swear (an oath).

2002

Cypress Hill Sl. Gloss. 🌐 word: to swear, to give an oath.