Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(usu. Aus./N.Z.) an escape; usu. do a get, to leave quickly, to run off.

1890		Music Hall & Theatre Rev. 25 Jan. 10/1: It is said Mr Jones did a ‘git’ through the window.
1894		Taralgon Record (Vic.) 16 Oct. 3/3: Selim and Matal, both ridden by five-stone boys, did a fast ‘get’ over a mile; the first 6 furlongs in 1 min, 19 secs.
1898		Bulletin (Sydney) 28 May 31/2: Their inquisitiveness [...] compelled Jim to kill his stud-sluts and growing stock, and do a timely ‘get’.
1907		Truth (Wellington) 21 Sept. 5 n.p.: Miss Taylor had been carrying on with a boarder, and he was told to do a polite get [DNZE].
1908		E.S. Sorenson Quinton’s Rouseabout and other Stories 130: Good mind to do a get with it, an’ let her rip. [...] He don’t want no gold now, anyway.
1908		J. Gunn We of the Never-Never (2004) 191: At sun-up next morning Happy Dick ‘did a get’ to his work.
1914		A.A. Grace Tale Timber Town 32: I must make a git. So long [DNZE].
1914		C.J. Dennis ‘The Play’ in Bulletin (Sydney) 16 July 47/1: Fair Juliet, she gives ’er boy the tip. / Sez she: ‘Don’t sling that crowd o’ mine no lip / An’ if you run agin a Capulet, / Jist do a get’.
1917		Letter in Boots, Belts (1992) n.p. : A day or two ago one of them [i.e. conscientious objectors] escaped, [sic] a chap had taken him to the canteen, and he did a ‘get’ from there [DNZE].
1924		G.H. Lawson Dict. of Aus. Words And Terms 🌐 GET, TO DO A – A hurried departure.
1931–4		D. Clemmer Prison Community (1940) 331/1: clean get, n. A successful escape. [Ibid.] 332/1: get, n. An escape or a get away.
1955		N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 232/2: do a get – to leave.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 37/2: do a get hasty retreat; eg ‘C’mon, youse jokers, let’s do a get before old Musty catches us.’ c. 1900.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].