Green’s Dictionary of Slang

in a smart manner.

1850		Fast Man 6:1 n.p.: He is a very splendid creature—comes out immensely knobby with a trap—and lives excessively fast.
1879		‘’Arry in Parry’ in Punch 15 Nov. 217/2: Still I’m going it nobby, dear boy.
1879		‘The Mount Gambier Marauders’ at warrenfahey.com 🎵 Oh! Don’t we come it nobbly – / Oh my, oh my!