Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a derog. term of address; also as Mr Ugly.

1864

Derby Day 37: Who spoke to you, ugly?

2. (UK society) a bonnet shade [what was generally seen as its lack of style or taste].

1850		Thackeray Kickleburys on Rhine (1851) 25: ‘Those hoods!’ she said; ‘we call those hoods Uglies!’ .
1854		Bell’s Life in Sydney 28 Jan. 3/2: The lady [...] exhibited one of the most handsome of those bonnets which are termed ‘ugly’.
1854		G.J. Whyte-Melville General Bounce (1891) 43: A pretext for peeping under their parasols and ‘uglies’ at the pretty faces.
1865		G.A. Sala My Diary in America I 405: The cotton ‘uglies’ worn by these barefooted young patriots to shield them from the sun.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1909		J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 253/2: Ugly (Soc., 50’s). Bonnet shade. ‘Ugly.’ The passing name bestowed by common consent upon the hideous shades worn upon the front of the bonnet, and made of silk drawn in gathers upon wires.

3. (also uglee) an unattractive person, usu. female.

[a.1797		H. Walpole Letters II 422: There were all the beauties and all the diamonds, and not a few of the uglies of London [F&H]].
1845		J.J. Hooper Adventures of Captain Simon Suggs (1851) 167: Hetty! [...] Come out and see him, he! he! yah! and, mind and throw a meal-bag, or somethin else over your head, twell my little ’squire gits sorter usen to the big ugly! Make haste you old dried-up witch!
1950		‘Hal Ellson’ Tomboy (1952) 40: I’m a hundred percent for the chicks [...] But no uglies.
1967–8		Baker et al. CUSS 216: Uglee An ugly person, male [...] female.
1969		N. Cohn Awopbop. (1970) 95: Beautiful Phil among the uglies.
1978		L. Kramer Faggots 81: Even the uglies have muscles.
1985		Tracks (Aus.) Apr. 3: So to all you uglies down the Bra, suck more piss and root more bushies; and, may none of you animals contract AIDS [Moore 1993].
1996		J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 121: [of a racehorse] Phar Lap was a real ugly duckling in his anklebiter days. [...] But then, a lot of other young uglies went on to great things.
2001		(con. 1945–6) P. Doyle Devil’s Jump (2008) 158: ‘So who burned down the Durban Castle?’ ‘[...] Perhaps the uglies from the League.’.
2023		(con. 1962) J. Ellroy Enchanters 231: No uglies and fatsos get in [i.e. to pre-screened wife-swapping parties].