Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) a stenographer, a typist; also attrib.

1906		J.F. Kelly Man with Grip 36: This bright young lady was on the waiting list of a steno. agency.
1913		Lincoln Daily News 15 Dec. in DN IV:ii 129: Pretty Steno Must Marry If She Is To Inherit Half Million [headline].
1929		M. Bodenheim Sixty Seconds 227: I don’t see how [...] a steno’s got much to brag about.
1934		B. Appel Brain Guy (1937) 23: Stinky Stanger and the damn’ stenos.
1942		R. Chandler High Window 150: Okay, copper. He make the confess [...] So we go in with a steno and Hench gives us the dope.
1952		Lait & Mortimer USA Confidential 95: Girl employees of the local Federal Bureau of Investigation—secretaries, stenos, file clerks and other unimportant personnel.
1964		Larner & Tefferteller Addict in the Street (1966) 59: She works at a scientific institute as an assistant editor, steno, secretary, and whatnot.
1975		L. Rosten Dear ‘Herm’ 104: So I now have a new steno [...] Her name is Mabel Pencil. Can you tie that??
1987		R. Campbell Alice in La-La Land (1999) 79: Is anyone intimidated by a recording device? [...] No? You don’t mind if I turn it on instead of calling in a steno?
2001		(con. 1964–8) J. Ellroy Cold Six Thousand 13: Shoddy work – no tape machines/no stenos.
2008		R. Price Lush Life 39: Pulling a steno pad from the inside of his jacket .