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Green’s Dictionary of Slang

what’s the good word? phr.

also what’s a good word?

1. what are the facts?

1910		Wash. Post 3 July 3/1: ‘What’s a good word?’ asked Red Lou [...] ‘Everything’s fine as silk,’ declared Hoppy.
1930		W.R. Burnett Iron Man 20: ‘What’s the good word, Mr. Regan?’ ‘Coke wins by a knock-out.’.

2. (US) a cordial greeting, how are you?

1930		D. Hammett Maltese Falcon (1965) 407: ‘Hello angel! What’s the good word?. . . . Fine, fine. Hold it. I’ll be out in twenty minutes. . . . Right’.
1953		‘John Monahan’ [W.R. Burnett] Big Stan 112: Otey [...] saw Stan and waved. ‘Hi, Cap. What’s the good word?’ ‘Hello, Otey’.
2000		Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 What’s the good word? Definition: how’s life? how are things goin? Example: What’s the good word, my nigga?