Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a general enquiry or greeting.

1855		W. Phillips Wild Tribes of London 104: Hilloh, Tom! what’s up, that you are obleeged to patch up your crab-shells? [...] Mr. Bradley [...] replies that ‘nuffin’s up’, but that times is bad.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor I 19/1: ‘Bill Smith’ is called to in a loud voice from one side, and a shout in answer from the other asks ‘What’s up?’.
1870		B. Harte Luck of Roaring Camp (1873) 75: Unfortunately, its outward expression was vague, being limited to a repetition of the following formula, – Su’shine all ri’!. Wasser maär, eh? Wass up, su’shine?
1884		(con. c.1840) ‘Mark Twain’ Huckleberry Finn 105: Hello, what’s up? Don’t cry, bub.
1885		Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 27 Feb. 4/5: ‘What’s up!’ replies the guard. ‘Jamie there (pointing to the driver) has let the water off the bile again.
1893		P.H. Emerson Signor Lippo 97: My good Jack, what’s up?
1895		Truth (Sydney) 5 May 3/3: What’s up [...] explain your hilarity.
1908		K. Grahame Wind in the Willows (1995) 67: ‘What’s up, Ratty?’ asked the Mole.
1910		Marvel 15 Oct. 21: What’s up, Pete?
1915		T. Burke Nights in Town 305: Some cried ‘Whassup?’.
1925		L. Doyle Dear Ducks 35: What’s up, Pat? I’ll tell ye what’s up.
1927		(con. WW1) P. MacDonald Patrol 148: ‘Whassup?’ he said, in a sibilant shout intended for a whisper.
1938		G. Greene Brighton Rock (1943) 226: He stopped and said to the Boy: ‘What’s up?’.
1938		X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 515: ‘Hey!’ ‘Wassup?’ asked a sleepy voice.
1949		N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 169: What’s the matter? What’s up?
1954		J.E. Macdonnell Jim Brady 13: What’s up, sonny?
1968		N. Heard Howard Street 25: Yeah, baby. What’s up?
1978		P. Theroux Picture Palace 220: I heard the mutters: Some crazy dame, What’s up? and Search me.
1981		Eble Campus Sl. Fall 6: ’s up – greeting.
1986		F. Taylor Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 127: Aye, what’s up, Moxey ... oh.
1988		Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 9: ’sup – greeting.
1990		M. McAlary Crack War (1991) 91: Todd gave Marshal a handshake and asked, ‘Sup?’ street slang for ‘What’s up?’.
1992		Eble Campus Sl. Apr. 10: what up – greeting.
1993		J. Mowry Six Out Seven (1994) 331: ‘S’up, Ethan?’ asked the boy.
1993		Snoop Doggy Dogg ‘U Betta Recognize’ 🎵 So whassup nigga? That’s whassup nigga.
1994		Detroit Free Press (MI) 8 Feb. 3E/1-3: What’s up. This is Chandra .
1995		A. Heckerling Clueless [film script] Dee? Whatup?
1997		(con. 1970s) G. Pelecanos King Suckerman (1998) 219: Hey, wha’s up?
1998		Eble Campus Sl. Apr. 9: ’sup – greeting.
1999		Indep. Rev. 10 Aug. 7: The hair-gelled bucks who never get beyond, ‘Hey, guy, what’s up?’ [...] in their conversations.
2000		Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 wuzzup Definition: ‘How is your day?’ Example: Wuzzup dog, how you doing?
2000		Guardian Guide 1–6 Jan. 17: The people who know me just walk up, ‘Hey, Ice! What’s up man?’.
2000		W. Shaw Westsiders 244: ‘Wassup?’ he says, looking at the door.
2001		(con. 1975–6) E. Little Steel Toes 94: Yo, zup, ben be wantin’ you two downstairs in the main room.
2002		‘Touré’ Portable Promised Land (ms.) 151: We Words (My Favorite Things) [...] Yo!!! What it look like? What it is. Whazzzap?!
2006		G. Malkani Londonstani (2007) 16: Kiddaan, man, ’sup, homeboy?
2001		D.P.G. ‘Treat Her Like A Lady’ 🎵 Hey, what’s up, baby, what’s cracking, baby, what’s going on with you, girl?
2010		IOL News (Western Cape) 10 June 🌐 Wassup, bro’, how have you been?
2011		G. Hayward Corruption Officer [ebk] cap. 20: I say ’Whatup,’ and breeze to my building.
2015		J. Stahl OG Dad 15: Forgive me, I’m not going to say Baby Mama; it reminds me of pinstriped, barely post-pube Hollywood agents who greet each other with ‘Whassup, dawg?’.

2. what’s the matter? esp. in what’s up with you/her? etc.

1837		A. Greene Glance at N.Y. II iv: What’s up? Say, Bubby, what’s de matter?
1848		‘Ned Buntline’ Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. III 59: Why what’s hup now, my kiddy?
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Mar. 18/2: ‘What is up?’ cried ‘J. D.;’ ‘what arouses your ire?’ / ‘It’s in print,’ shrieked poor Angus; ‘look here! in the Lyre.’.
1890		Sporting Times 8 Mar. 1/4: Gub turned up on Tuesday with his arm in a sling. ‘Hullo,’ cried Pitcher, ‘what’s up, Gub? Been trying to scratch yourself with your elbow?’.
1901		Boy’s Own Paper 16 Feb. 308: When I whispered ‘What’s up?’ she shook her head.
1914		‘Bartimeus’ ‘Captain’s Defaulters’ in Naval Occasions 10: ‘In the bloomin’ rattle, I am,’ explained the disturber of traffic. ‘Wha’s up, then?’.
1925		S. O’Casey Juno and the Paycock Act III: What’s up, what’s wrong, Captain?
1938		J. Curtis They Drive by Night 103: ‘I’m in a right two and eight.’ ‘What’s up?’ ‘What’s up? Plenty!’.
1948		(con. 1944) N. Mailer Naked and Dead 366: What’s up, he wondered.
1951		D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 140: What’s up, boss? Fallen out with the trouble and strife?
1959		W. Hall Long and the Short and the Tall Act I: johnstone: Get on your feet, lad! / bamforth: What’s up?
1965		E. Bond Saved Scene ii: Wass up darlin’?
1979		Fantastic Four Annual 38: What’s up, Sue?
1981		J. Sullivan ‘The Second Time Around’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] What’s up with you then, eh?
1995		J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 136: Fuckin’ what up Nicky? [...] What happening Nicky?
1999		K. Sampson Powder 241: What’s up? baby?
2000		Guardian 28 Jan. 32: What’s up with it, Deems?

3. what is happening?, what is going on?

1912		Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Nov. 15/1: ‘Stan’ back there! Mind yer toes!!’ / ‘Orright! Don’t lose yer ’ead! / Wot’s up in ’ere? ’Oo knows?’ / ‘’Oo sez there was two dead?’.
1963–74		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 88: What’s up, for chrissake?
1999		E. Bunker Mr Blue 80: ‘He’s okay,’ was the answer. ‘What’s up?’.
2005		B. Hare Urban Grimshaw 41: All right, Urb? What’s up?