Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US black, also mommy) a woman, any woman, spec. as a term of address.

1939		P. Cheyney Don’t Get Me Wrong (1956) 48: Nine hundred and ninety-nine guys out of every thousand believe that all the mommas they happen across are just sweet, soft an’ lovin’ babies.
a.1955		‘Kitty Barrett’ in D. Wepman et al. Life (1976) 53: Say, Mommy, where are you from?
1958		Southern & Hoffenberg Candy (1970) 119: Here’s a credential for you, momma!
1962		P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 92: Dig my man Roach kicking them weird sounds, momma.
1972		Milner & Milner Black Players 194: Most often the ho is called ‘Momma’ affectionately by her man.
1978		R. Price Ladies’ Man (1985) 18: Listen, Mommy, you’re gonna be fine tonight.
1981		J. Wambaugh Glitter Dome (1982) 151: At least one massive momma came wallumping into the Hollywood vice office bitching about a Tuna Can Tommy Polaroid she found on her windshield.
1992		R.G. Barrett Davo’s Little Something 11: I’m hip to the re-bop momma don’t you worry.
1998		(con. 1960s) G. Washington Blood Brothers 11: Oh, she was a juicy momma!
1998		K. Anderson Night Dogs 30: ‘Here, momma. Lemme help you outta that bullet-proof vest’.

2. (US black) a girlfriend, a lover.

1955		H. Ainley In Order to Die 168: [B]etween his barmaid and his pistol-packing momma he must have had his hands full .
1962		P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 163: That momma Marion would jump salty if she knew you was blowing weed.
1980		E. Folb Runnin’ Down Some Lines 247: momma […] 2. A lover, mate, girlfriend.

3. a male-to-male term of friendly address.

1962

P. Crump Burn, Killer, Burn! 19: You know we’s ace-boon-coons, momma.

4. synon. for motherfucker n.

1975		CBS-TV 1 June [TV] If I don’t defrost this momma [a refrigerator] pretty soon, I can return it to Peggy Fleming to rehearse in [R].
1989		H. Rawson Dict. of Invective (1991) 258: Such variations on the unstated theme as M.F., Marshall Field, and Mister Franklin, the slurred mo’-fo’ and muh-fuh, the rococo triple-clutcher, popularized by black truck drivers in army construction battalions; and the clipped momma, mother, and muther.