Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (Aus./N.Z.) an itinerant worker, who travels with his pack on his back while looking for employment.

1933

(ref. to 1890–1910) L.G.D. Acland Early Canterbury Runs (1951) 370: Commercial – Slang for swagger.

2. (Aus./N.Z.) a commercial traveller.

1867		M. Lemon Golden Fetters II 235: The ‘commercials’ having finished their wine, went forth to pursue their various avocations.
1874		‘Old Calabar’ Won in a Canter I 178: ‘Well, in came the gentleman; we saw in an instant by the cut of his jib he was a commercial’.
1881		Dundee Courier (Scot.) 25 Mar, 7/5: You see she wouldn’t come with me till we were married. Told her I was a commercial. Ha! ha!
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Apr. 22/1: The landlady of the place tapped gently at the door and politely requested the ladies inside to make themselves scarce, as two gentlemen ‘commercials’ wished to have the room to write in.
1889		Tempted London 17: He may, however, elect to go ‘on the road,’ or become an ‘ambassador of commerce;’ in other words, a ‘commercial.’.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Feb. 15/1: Arrived at pub. N. found B. making merry with a couple of commercials, and himself ‘chipped in.’.
1904		Sun. Times (Perth) 17 July 1/1: The supper-room scandal at a riverview pub concerns a commercial and a hammer-knight's helpmeet.
1910		Bulletin (Sydney) 18 Aug. 14/3: I remember one trip around. I was a ‘commercial’ in those days, and was staying at Mick Corcoran’s Star and Garter for the sake of Mick’s daughter. I was leaving that afternoon for Auckland, and Mick said to me: ‘Let’s go for a bit av a walk.’.
1920		B. Cronin Timber Wolves 34: Thought you was one of them ordinary, whiskey-stinking commercials.
1930		E. Waugh Vile Bodies 67: If you’re a commercial, I can tell you straight it ain’t no use going to ’im.
1950		‘Josephine Tey’ To Love and Be Wise 154: You a commercial?’ she asked [...] ‘No,’ said Grant. ‘I’m a policeman’.
1991		J.B. Keane Love Bites and Other Stories 112: ‘I know now,’ said a Waterford man, an elderly commercial who likes to hop balls.

3. (Aus./US gay, also commercial queer, commercial trade) a male prostitute, both homo- and heterosexual; thus as adj.

1949		‘Swasarnt Nerf’ et al. Gay Girl’s Guide 5: commercial: One who is a male prostitute, whether brazenly or discreetly, homosexual or not. (adjective). [Ibid.] 19: The ones who show no great interest in the genital dimensions [...] are very likely to be anally-minded (assuming they are not commercial).
1964		Lavender Lex. n.p.: commercial: – A male prostitute. ‘Commercial Trade’, implying that the male prostitute does not look upon himself as a homosexual.
1965		Guild Dict. Homosexual Terms 9: commercial (adj.): Professional, as applying to any boy who submits to sexual intercourse only for monetary gain.
1972		B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 111: a male prostitute [...] commercial queer [Ibid.] 200: commercial trade one who participates in homosexual sex for money; hustler.
2010		W. Ings ‘Trolling the Beat to Working the Soob’ in Int’l Jrnl Lexicog. 23:1 71: In New Zealand there have been many terms for a young male street worker. These include school bag, street solicitor, merchandise, Kleenex, commercial, trade, street trick, and Illegal Tegel.

4. (drugs) drugs that have been ‘cut’ for sale (and are thus less powerful).

1971

R. Woodley Dealer 62: [Y]ou can’t expect an hour-and-a-half high on a two-and-two commercial.

5. (gay) either excuses made by male prostitutes to justify their occupation, or actual adverts, based on self-aggrandizement, aimed at attracting clients [play on SE commercials, advertisements].

1972

B. Rodgers Queens’ Vernacular 54: commercials 1. old tired excuses used by *hustlers: ‘I hustle ’cause I need the money to pay the rent’ and ‘You were really nice, and I hate to ask you for money, but ...’ are two well-known lines 2. personal build-ups to interest a possible buyer ‘I’m blond and hung and loved to get fucked, if that’s your bag’ 3. ads run by male models in underground newspapers.

6. (US drugs, also commersh) marijuana buds that come in a brick; esp. used of Colombian marijuana (which is packaged in this manner).

1994		G. Smitherman Black Talk 81: Colom Marijuana imported from Colombia. Also commercial.
2001		Da Smokehouse Marijuana Gloss. 🌐 commercial [US] – buds that come in a brick.
2003		Kinkyphilly Weed Lair 🌐 Commersh – Low grade marijuana. Usually 7% or less THC. Name refers to ‘commercial’. This makes sense because commersh weed is made in large quantities, and less care can be taken for them, so the plants produce shitty buds. Variations – Mersh, Mershal, Commercial.