Green’s Dictionary of Slang

homeless or destitute; living as a tramp.

1898		‘R. Andom’ Martha and I 205: I definitely refused to advance a ‘tanner’ [...] to aid a ‘gen’leman what is a bit in the downs’.
1908		D.G. Phillips Susan Lenox II 233: ‘Oh—he’s down and out—eh? Why?’ ‘Drink— and hard luck.’.
1917		‘A-No. 1’ From Coast to Coast with Jack London 63: Their general down-and-out appearance boded ill for an equitable return for the wages.
1923		Eve. teleg. (Dundee) 20 June 3/4: Hunter [...] supplied down-and-out derelicts with revolvers [...] and sent them out to rob.
1925		J. Tully Beggars of Life 98: ‘So you’re broke, Kid?’ she said. ‘Yes, mum, I’m all out and down.’.
1928		Derby Dly Teleg. 27 Aug. 8/4: The superior types of the ‘Down-and-out Land’ [...] enjoying, like myself, a pennypiece of cake, a ‘doorstep’ (slice of bread and margarine) and a tin mug of tea.
1928		R. Hall Well of Loneliness (1976) 181: He thinks that because I took a lover when I was literally down and out, I’m likely to do the same thing now.
1930		J. Lait Gangster Girl 4: She was down and out, a long way from anywhere.
1949		A. Miller Death of a Salesman in Contemp. Drama: 11 Plays 1950 287/2: And when you’re down and out, remember what did it .
1956		N. Algren Walk on the Wild Side 132: One little down-and-out bum of a Raggedy Ann with patches on her skirt.
1967		N. Dunn Poor Cow 5: I don’t want to be down and out all the time.
1973		(con. 1940s–60s) Hogbotel & ffuckes ‘The Bastard from the Bush’ in Snatches and Lays 83: Then when you’re down and outed, to a hopeless bloody wreck, / May you slip back through your arsehole, and break your fucking neck.
1982		P. Theroux London Embassy 44: It took imagination, and time, and a great deal of money for these spoiled wealthy girls to appear down and out.
1994		(con. 1920s) K.C. Kearns Dublin Tenement Life 69: Local people didn’t mind the madams. And they were the best in the world for helping the poor [...] Now May Oblong, she’d see you down-and-out and she’d help you.
2000		Indep. Rev. 8 May 1: A down-and-out basement squat.