Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also kiddoo) a general term of address to an adult, sometimes derog.

1893		McClure’s Mag. I 767/2: You said it, kiddo! I’ve found it and I’m shaking it.
1896		A. Morrison Child of the Jago 155: Josh was up almost before Kiddo Cook reached him.
1908		B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 60: I want to tell you something, kiddo.
1911		E.B. Morris Freshman in College Comedies 11: Oh, say, kiddo, that’s the talk.
1915		T. Burke Nights in Town 197: Si longtemps, old kiddo.
1920		E. O’Neill Anna Christie Act I: Well, I’ll tell you straight, kiddo.
1935		N. Algren Somebody in Boots 118: Come on, kiddo, you got me now.
1947		S.J. Perelman ‘Pull Devil’ Keep It Crisp 135: Hasta luego, kiddo, and keep your nose clean.
1952		C. Harris Death of a Barrow Boy 40: ‘Why, kid, oh kiddo!’ He punched the other’s arm.
1953		R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 295: I’m sick of cops.’ He looked surprised. Then he grinned. ‘That was a plant, kiddo,’ he said cheerfully.
1963		G. Lambert Inside Daisy Clover (1966) 203: Belt out the heartbreak, kiddo, get going with the beat of sorrow.
1978		A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 161: Now we’re getting somewhere, kiddo.
1986		C. Hiaasen Tourist Season (1987) 326: Good work, kiddo.
1992		K. Lette Llama Parlour 32: I said you wouldn’t last long, kiddo.
2000		M. Collins Keepers of Truth 269: He said, ‘Okay, kiddo!’.
2003		Simon & Burns ‘Storm Warnings’ Wire ser. 2 ep. 10 [TV script] ‘You don’t think I’m good enough to handle it.’ ‘Ain’t about that, kiddo’.
2014		C. Eble (ed.) UNC-CH Campus Sl. Spring 2014 9: KIDDO — anyone. Patronizing.
2015		S. King Finders Keepers (2016) 102: But jeez kiddo, I also know how much Rothstein means to you.

2. a person.

1908		H. Green Maison De Shine 195: I want Birdie [...] My little kiddo, that’s all I want.
1929		(con. 1917–18) C. MacArthur War Bugs 236: The prevalent joke was to misunderstand all the new kiddos’ orders.
1937		P. Cheyney Dames Don’t Care (1960) 137: When they was issuin’ out nerve they issued this kiddo with enough to run the Marines on.
1963		in T.I. Rubin Sweet Daddy 75: Some of these kiddos like to see some poor slob wriggle around.

3. a girlfriend.

1913		Alaska Citizen 28 July 8/4: You never will land a Johnny-boy that’s got enough gray matter in his cupola to want a real, bang-up flossy lady for his kiddo.
1919		Hulbert & Simpson ‘My Girl Is My New C.O.’ 🎵 The cuty cuty Kiddo’s my new C.O.

4. a young person or a child, esp. as a greeting, Hey, kiddo.

1922		F.S. Fitzgerald ‘The Diamond as Big as the Ritz’ in Bodley Head Scott Fitzgerald V (1963) 61: Hey, kiddo, how’s the air up there?
1938		J. Devanny Paradise Flow 221: Not to-night, Kiddo. Cheer-oh!
1949		J.H. Burns Lucifer with a Book 55: They were Well Enough Off to afford a private education for their kiddo.
1959		C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 41: The old blackmail of the parents and all oldies against the kiddos.
1966		M. Rumaker Exit 3 and Other Stories 19: How do you spell that, kiddo?
1971		T. Murphy Morning After Optimism in Plays: 3 (1994) Scene ix: Come to my working blanket, kiddo!
1986		S. King It (1987) 88: I want you kiddos to have them.
1998		‘Bill E. Goodhead’ Nubile Treat 🌐 ‘It was pretty much a dead heat as far as I could see,’ Dan said. ‘I guess you won, kiddo.’.
2003		Malcolm Pryce Last Tango in Aberystwyth 124: Sorry, kiddo, you’re only licensed to carry a catapult.