Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a partner, esp. as a term of address (cf. partner n. (2)).

1795		B. Dearborn Columbian Grammar 137: Improprieties, commonly called Vulgarisms, [...] [include] Pardener for Partner [DA].
1838		W.N. Glascock Land Sharks and Sea Gulls II 111: My pals here and me are just planning a bit o’ work by starlight, and though we can’t make ye a pardner, we can find a job for ye outside.
1844		J.C. Neal Peter Ploddy and Other Oddities 161: Not only had he achieved victory for his ‘pard’ners’ and gained the refreshment tickets [...] he had also secured several bets.
1850		C.L. Canfield Diary of a Forty-Niner (1906) 18: It makes a lot of difference having a pard with you. [Ibid.] 17 Nov. 35: Pard is all right again, thank the Lord.
c.1850		F.M. Whitcher Widow Bedott Papers (1883) 13: I know what ’tis to lose a pardner.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 43/1: I have a pardner what plays the music [...] him as you see’d with me.
1868		H.L. Williams Black-Eyed Beauty 37: ‘Anything to say to a pard outside?’ went on the voice.
1873		J. O’Connor Wanderings of a Vagabond 370: [He] was informed by the dealer [...] that his ‘pardner,’ who carried the bank money, was out, but would be back presently.
1876		inscription on grave of Wild Bill Hickok in F.J. Wilstach Wild Bill Hickok (1926) 288: You gave him a ‘bully good send’; Bill was friend to you, pard, And you were his last, best friend.
1880		Ouachita Teleg. (Monroe, LA) 17 Sept. 1/6: Well, now, you must be my silent podna.
1880		Bulletin (Sydney) 19 June 2/4: A Chinaman who, in a most cold-blooded manner, had pick axed his ‘pard’.
1883		E. Field ‘Formerly of Kansas’ Little Bk of Trib. Verse (1901) 167: Is it you, old pard, with your whitened hair.
1884		Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday 31 May 35/2: Ef yer [...] want a pard that’ll stick to to ye till ye pass in yer checks, just squeal .
1884		J. Miller Memorie and Rime 146: Ginger, you know him; pard of yours, eh?
1890		‘’Arry on the ’Oliday Season’ in Punch 16 Aug. 74/1: Ah! Nobbles obliges, old pardner, and great is the power of ‘form.’.
1890		Bird o’ Freedom 22 Jan. 3: ‘You’ve got to come into the house.’ ‘Can’t do it, podner, I’m ashamed of my clothes.’.
1894		Truth (Sydney) 2 Sept. 2/3: He joins his old pard [...] in London early next year.
1895		Mirror of Life 16 Feb. 14/1: ‘Hold on there, pard’.
1896		Mirror of Life 7 Mar. 14/1: [as husband] Mrs. Vesey, the wife of ‘old’ Joe Vesey, has soon rejoined her ‘pard,’ and taken her place among the vest majority.
1898		Binstead & Wells Pink ’Un and Pelican 191: ‘I never had a tip straighter than this,’ chipped in The Pard.
1898		Progress (Shreveport, LA) 23 July 1/4: Tjhings are goin to bile when they start podner.
1900		Boy’s Own Paper 15 Dec. 162: ‘Say, pardner,’ drawled the burly newcomer.
1900		Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 211: I’d like to accommodate you, pard.
1904		Sun. Times (Perth) 17 Jan. 10/8: Just then the stranger said he was / Prepared to take a pard.
1906		Sun. Times (Perth) 27 May 4/7: Kiss the girl when she’s willing, pard.
1907		D. Stewart Shadows of the Night in Illus. Police News 6 July 12/3: ‘What’s the game to be, old pard?’.
1913		Oklahoma Miner (Krebs, OK) 10 Apr. 3/2: No danger o’ that, podner!
1914		H. Kemp ‘The Harvest Fly’s Complaint’ in Cry of Youth 72: And, Pard, I’m getting sick of it—the way they treat us men.
1917		Boy’s Own Paper XL 1 34: Good-night, pardner.
1920		H. Wiley Wildcat 249: Podner, bein’s as it’s you I don’t mind tradin’.
1923		‘Sapper’ Jim Maitland (1953) 80: And he’s my pard, you son of a gun – don’t you forget it!
1923		Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith (1993) 579: Pals, pardner, pals! Pals till hell freezes!
1930		G. Milburn ‘The Stew-Bum’ in Hobo’s Hornbook 136: ’Scuse me, pard, for hornin’ in.
1937		E. Anderson Thieves Like Us 16: I got ten bucks, Pardner.
1940		O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 42: She does the work an’ he corrals the coin, sorta sleepin’-pardner, in more ways than one.
1943		M. Constiner ‘The Turkey Buzzard Blues’ in Ruhm Hard-Boiled Detective (1977) 271: Hit’s you that’s taking the chance, poddner.
1947		Trail Riders Bul. Feb. 20/1: Wal, Sluefoot Jones—that’s my pard [...] gits the job, ’long with me [DA].
1953		L. Uris Battle Cry (1964) 197: Jest take it slow and easy, pard.
1954		Oh Boy! No. 22 5: Let’s go, pardner!
1956		Mad mag. Nov.–Dec. 11: Better hand over yore gun, podner.
1966		‘Tom Pendleton’ Iron Orchard (1967) 373: Thanks, podner.
1968		A. Salkey Late Emancipation of Jerry Stover (1982) 157: No ’ard feelin’s, pardner, ’til the Revolution noise start up under you’ arse.
1977		(con. 1969) M. Herr Dispatches 200: Well, podner, what can I tell you?
1979		‘Iceberg Slim’ Airtight Willie and Me 13: Now you look the part, Pardner.
1983		A-Team Storybook 60: Trapped us some neat little critters here, pardner.
1991		Dandy Comic Library Special No. 210 47: Howdy, Pardner!
2000		C. Cook Robbers (2001) 5: I got four dollars here, pardner.
2000		Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 potna Definition: a good friend Example: Yo potna...rool up the weed homes.