Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a person, usu. in the context of a place or country other than their own; also as a term of address.

1875		L. Swinburne in Scribner’s Monthly II 508: Pilgrim and ‘tenderfoot’ were formerly applied almost exclusively to imported cattle, by a natural transference they are usually used to designate all new-comers, tourists, and business-men [F&H].
1877		E.L. Wheeler Deadwood Dick in Beadle’s Half Dime Library I:1 80/1: A green pilgrim is the first to get salted.
1883		Bristol Magpie 15 Mar. 6/2: ‘I’m going to collect here, and save time. Pilgrim, count out my divy!’.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Dec. 7/3: Well, when our officers called on all the men willing to join the new police to step out from the ranks, the result was ‘nixy,’ for not a pilgrim budged an inch.
1922		P.A. Rollins Cowboy 70: Say, stranger, let me give you some advice. You’re a pilgrim. Excuse me, that there just means you’re new to this country.
1934		O. Strange Sudden 10: Yu took three hundred from a pilgrim in this room las’ night.
1940		O. Strange Sudden Takes the Trail 17: Slick work, marshal. What you done with the pilgrim?
1947		R.S. Spears ‘A 22-Gun Ranger Walks’ Texas Rangers Jan. 🌐 ‘Pilgrim!’ the voice said, ‘don’t git nervy— We’re hongry, too!’.
1955		J. Blake letter 27 Mar. in Joint (1972) 58: This pilgrim may not be the smartest around, but he is going to be the wariest.
1962		Bellah & Goldbeck Man Who Shot Liberty Valance [film script] Tom Doniphon: Hold it, Pilgrim. I said you, Liberty; you pick it up. [Ibid.] Hey, pilgrim! You forgot your pop-gun!
1977		(con. 1949) J.G. Dunne True Confessions (1979) 263: I can patch tires like a son of a bitch, let me help you out, Pilgrim, with your flat.
1979		(con. c.1970) G. Hasford Short Timers (1985) 56: Listen up, pilgrim. You skating again?
1984		Jackson Hole Guide (MT) 9 Oct. 16/1: ‘Best come along, Pilgrim’.
1990		(con. c.1970) G. Hasford Phantom Blooper 21: ‘Listen up,’ I say, doing my famous impression of the voice of John Wayne. ‘This is no shit, pilgrim.’.
1993		T. Pratchett Men at Arms (1994) 83: ‘It’s me, Lance-Constable Cuddy.’ ‘Yes, pilgrim?’.

2. a conventional person.

1924		Hecht & Bodenheim Cutie 13: ‘God,’ said our one-eyed Pilgrim [...] ‘has smote me for my sins.’.
1991		B. Hamper Rivethead (1992) 80: He was just gonna have to quit actin’ like such a swell pilgrim.
1995		J. Stahl Permanent Midnight 177: Actual sit-down-and-grind-out-a-novel pilgrims.