Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK/US, esp. Und.) to warn, to tip off, to indicate.

1846		Swell’s Night Guide 58: I tells Bet to be on the wido, for a swell was sweet on me for a tail; officed Bet, she tumbled to the fake, and stalled off to the dossery. I take the swell to the tape shop, took our daffies, officed Lumming Ned and Scrapping George; they stalked off to the dossery, where I take my green’un; pinches his skin and ticker, darks the lumber, and planted Flabby Bet on him; she eased him of his fawney, tipped him the glue, officed her cullies, they pasted his nibs, and scarpered rumbo.
1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 22/1: We made our way very quickly to the Royal Mortar, and [...] ‘officed’ to Tommy that we wanted a room to ourselves.
1908		Dly Press (Newport News, VA) 19 Apr. 12/3: He offices ‘locked’ and the mob ducks.
1911		D. Runyon ‘The Informal Execution of Soupbone Pew’ in From First to Last (1954) 76: The Shine rapped to him as quick as I did, and officed Mole and the rest.
1916		T. Burke Limehouse Nights 258: Fred spotted him and officed me to pull the rough stuff.
1929		W.R. Burnett Little Caesar (1932) 76: Will you let her out when I office you.
1930		J. Lait Gangster Girl 129: We got to put on a spotter to office us when B. B. goes out.
1952		W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 209: The hackie will know. He’ll office me if we lost.
1989		J. Morton Lowspeak.

2. to call upon.

1811

Caledonian Mercury 14 Oct. 4/2: After [...] the usual loyal toasts had been given, the Chairman was officed for a chaunt.