Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a president, whether of a college or organization, or America itself.

1861		in Bleser Secret and Sacred; The Diaries of James Henry Hammond (1988) 277: They nominated (John C.) Beckinridge (of Kentucky) for Pres.
1892		Isis (Oxford) 8 June 35/2: Only the Pres. of the J.C.R. and the Captain of the Eleven retain their equanimity [OED].
1909		Hickman Ciurier (KY) 21 Oct. 11/1: Pres. Taft’s Address.
1914		Day Book (Chicago) 2 Mar. 31/1: Pres. Wilson’s privately appointed embassy.
1919		T.A. Dorgan in Zwilling TAD Lex. (1993) 44: (O[outdoor] S[ports]: Giving the up and down to the pres. of the local anti-saloon league as he moseys by with a suspicious looking bundle) Well — here’s to crime.
1929		W. Winchell On Broadway 29 Oct. [synd. col.] Wm Paley, prez of the Columbia chain.
1951		Green & Laurie Show Biz from Vaude to Video 571: Prez – president.
1957		H. Simmons Corner Boy 114: You’re the Pres of the T’s now, Scotty.
1967		P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 49: Where I come from, the pres is president ’cause he got heart when it comes to dealing.
1970		T. Southern Blue Movie (1974) 10: Les Harrison — handsome, forty-three-year-old vice-prez of Metropolitan pix.
1971		(con. 1950s) D. Wells Night People 92: They are like the Pres and Vice-Pres of Paris.
1976		R. Price Blood Brothers 237: ‘The poor guy thought he was still livin’ in a Jewish-Italian neighbordhood.’ ‘Yeah, an’ Roosevelt’s still the Prez.’.
1989		G. Tate ‘The GOP Throws a Mammy-Jammy’ in Flyboy in the Buttermilk (1992) 106: They refused to broadcast it live on cable out of fear it might embarrass the Prez.
1990		S. Morgan Homeboy 3: Sugarfoot was prez of the Ventura chapter of Satan’s Slaves.
2005		J. Stahl I, Fatty 116: Prez Zukor sat on the dais with Jesse Lasky and Marcus Loew.
2023		(con. 1962) J. Ellroy Enchanters 50: She blew the prez [...] on Air Force One.

2. (US black) an important, influential individual [note tenor saxophonist Lester Young (1909–59) was so nicknamed by Billie Holiday].

1941		‘Digg Mee’ ‘Observation Post’ in N.Y. Age 26 Apr. 9/7: They say the pres. took offense and grabbed his shotgun for defense.
1972		D. Claerbaut Black Jargon in White America 76: prez n. an acknowledged leader or power figure, often of a gang.

3. a term of address, genuinely respectful or ironic.

1957		H. Simmons Corner Boy 77: What’s happening, Pres.
1965		H. Rhodes Chosen Few (1966) 9: ‘Yeah, prez,’ one of the big ones said.
1975		E. Torres Carlito’s Way 71: Don’t mess with Hoppy, pres, I’m a sick man.