Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. unfavourably, in an unsatisfactory manner.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 263/2: from ca. 1600; SE till ca. 1840, then coll.

2. in a criminal manner.

1877

Five Years’ Penal Servitude 270: They can very soon know if he is going ‘cross’ or ‘square’.