Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to give a verbal rejoinder.

1896		Ade Artie 54: Did you ever get the worst of it in such a way that you couldn’t come back at the time?
1902		Ade Girl Proposition 125: She said he had an Interesting Face. He had a Notion to come back but he didn’t think it would be right.
1963		‘Nino Culotta’ Gone Fishin’ 197: He’s always talkin’ like that, and nobody ever comes back at ’im.
1969		H. Rap Brown Die Nigger Die! 29: If the brother couldn’t come back behind that, I usually cut him some slack.
2000		W.D. Myers ‘Block Party–145th Street Style’ in 145th Street 142: ‘Hey, Squeeze, what’s happening?’ he said. ‘Hey, J.T.,’ I came back.