Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a third-rate cigar [the type of cigar smoked by ‘Mr Pickwick’ in Charles Dickens’s Pickwick Papers (1836)].

1902

H. Baumann Londinismen (2nd edn).

2. a toothpick.

1890

Century Dict.

3. (also picks) a lockpick, the tool; a person who uses it.

1890		Century Dict.
1970		‘Red’ Rudensky Gonif 76: When they heard I was good with the picks I was accepted [into the gang] with an honorary lifetime membership.
1977		E. Torres Q&A 163: I knew how to use the picks.
1992		S.L. Hills Tragic Magic 40: I knew guys who were picks – did things like picking locks, getting into apartments.

4. (UK/US Und.) a pickpocket, usu. the one who removes the victim’s wallet or jewellery.

1903		H. Hapgood Autobiog. of a Thief 33: I met the ‘pick’ whom we had seen at work.
1952		in C. Hamilton Men of the Und. 76: One acted as the ‘dip’ or ‘pick’.
1985		J. Wambaugh Secrets of Harry Bright (1986) 33: Hiram, was only a crank dealer and a burglar and a pursepick.

5. (US black) a jukebox.

1942

D. Burley N.Y. Amsterdam Star-News 31 Jan. 16: The pick was mellow and was grinding.

6. (US black, also Afro pick, natural pick) a large comb used spec. for tidying an afro n. (1) or ‘natural’ hairstyle.

1972		D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 75: pick n. a comb used by black people for natural and Afro hairstyles.
1974		H.L. Foster Playin’ the Dozens 246: To be hip you carry an Afro ‘pick’ around with you to ‘pick’ out your bush while you're sitting in class; then you can stick the pick in your bush for safekeeping until the next class.
1978		W.D. Myers It Ain’t All for Nothin’ 36: [U]nderneath [her wig] was her regular hair, and she had a pick and picked it out so it was kind of neat.
1981		W.D. Myers Hoops 38: Breeze [...] took out his Afro pick and dropped it in the strongbox.
1988		W.D. Myers Fallen Angels 47: [He] thought he might have lost his comb there. He went into the hooch to look for his pick.
1994		G. Pelecanos Shoedog 118: Now Jackson had brought out his pick—a black plastic comb with a black plastic fist clenched on the end of it—and he was raking the comb up the front of his modified Afro.
2003		G. Tate Midnight Lightning 10: Small armies of Afro-picks.