Green’s Dictionary of Slang

an imper. calling on one’s attention, esp. before delivering some reprimand or lecture.

[1757		Garrick Male-Coquette I i: Lookee, Bell, ’tis in vain to oppose me, for I am resolv’d].
1853		Dickens Bleak House (1991) 215: Now look’ee here, George .
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 125/1: Look’ee here! it’s a public-house!
1871		E. Eggleston Hoosier School-Master (1892) 239: ‘Looky here, Squar,’ he said wiping the perspiration from his brow, ‘looky here.’.
1873		J. Greenwood In Strange Company 255: Lookee here: I’m a man that’s willin’ to do my twelvemonth’s hard labour for a thousand pounds.
1880		‘Edward Howe’ Roughing It in Van Diemen’s Land 40: And look’ee here, Norman. Don’t give ’em food and baccy.
1884		(con. c.1840) ‘Mark Twain’ Huckleberry Finn 41: Looky here — mind how you talk to me.
1896		B.L. Farjeon Betrayal of John Fordham 275: Look ’ere. It ain’t a plant, is it?
1901		W.N. Harben Westerfelt 144: ‘Looky’ here,’ he said, deliberately.
1910		Sporting Times 1 Jan. 5/1: Lookee here, guv’ner [...] here’s a fool wants to get married before he know’s how the ’lection’s going to turn out.
1914		M. Glass Potash And Perlmutter 9: ‘Say, looky here, Noblestone,’ he said.
1925		Du Bose Heyward Porgy (1945) 43: ‘Look hyuh, sonny!’ called Porgy.
1928		R. Carr Rampant Age 43: Gee, looky there!
1936		M. Harrison All the Trees were Green 138: Now, lookee here, Browning.
1944		J.S. Pennell Hist. of Rome Hanks 63: Lookee here, where’s Harry Mullin?
1945		(con. 1937) R. Westerby Mad in Pursuit 207: Look’ee, Janet. I’m glad, d’you see? [Ibid.] 208: Look here, old boy. You’re getting morbid.
1946		J.E. Dadswell Hey, Sucker 198: Looky here, boss, we ain’t going to mess you around none.
1967		P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 30: ‘Well-l, fellas.’ Rocky said. ‘Lookee who’s here.’.
1975		J. Wambaugh Choirboys (1976) 83: Looky here, Francis, I been on the job longer than you.
1985		T.R. Houser Central Sl. 46: say looky-here [...] ‘Say, looky-here, what time you leavin’ anyway?’.
1992		P. Earley Hot House 109: ‘Looky here,’ Bowles said, pointing at the paper, ‘they got you down as an extreme escape risk!’.