Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also teddy) a teddy boy [abbr.; the youth cult orig. known as ‘Edwardians’ and named for their sartorial style, borrowed from the contemporary upper-class dandies who in turn had recreated the fashions of their own grandfathers].

1957		S. Selvon Ways of Sunlight 135: It was ruction in the town when the teddies start up on this new dance.
1959		F. Norman Fings I Prologue: As the Teds go off a uniformed copper walks on stage, surreptitiously smoking a cigarette.
1966		T. Keyes All Night Stand 95: The Teds started beating up the art students, and people were diving off the balconies.
1976		P. Theroux Family Arsenal 167: He’d put his arm around me and keep the teds away.
1989		M. Amis London Fields 21: The zooty sideburns and masturbator’s pallor of an old Ted in a black suit.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 6: Regardless, he still looked a Ted.
2004		N. ‘Razor’ Smith A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun 73: Being a ted was like being in an elite brotherhood.

2. a person [from sense 1].

1998		K. Sampson Awaydays 140: A squat, powerful-looking sporty ted, spotless face, flawless teeth, Enid Blyton looks.
2001		K. Sampson Outlaws (ms.) 63: Think they’re walking on the wild side going up to Nirvana [...] I hate teds like that.