Green’s Dictionary of Slang

an amusing person; esp. as old flick.

1841		Morn. Post (London) 27 Mar. 4/3: Harry Easton, alaias Old Flick.
1844		J. Overs Evenings of a Working Man 188: Sir Sniggerme Peter! if yer aint both reglar flicks.
c.1844		‘Opening of the Royal Exchange’ in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 67: So take it back again, old flick.
1857		London Standard 5 May 3/3: I say, old flick, here's a curious go.
1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. (2nd edn) 141: FLICK, or old flick, an old chap or fellow.
1866		J. Greenwood Little Ragamuffin 232: ‘He’s on’y a new boy wot’s a-comin’ ’prentice [...] that’s right, ain’t it, old flick?’.
1879		‘’Arry on Crutches’ in Punch 3 May 201/1: I wish we wos chums on the crawl, and I’d show yer, old flick, ’ow to carry / The swell stick.
1883		‘’Arry at the Royal Evening Fête’ in Punch 28 July 38/1: Well, last night, They’d a feet in these gardens, old flick, as was something too awfully quite.
1891		London Dly News 9 Oct. 3/4: Mr Cosquet makes the most of the humours of 'Old Flick', the fence.
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 29: Flick, an old friend, a term of endearment.
1900		Marvel XIV:344 June 4: Quite, old flick.
1916		‘Sapper’ Men, Women & Guns 38: ‘My dear old flick,’ said the other, ‘don't get excited’.
1920		‘Sapper’ Bulldog Drummond 118: How beautifully you put it, old flick.