Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) an important or self-important person; usu. as his/her nobs.

1858		A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 170: So Phil allowed Mr. Kurney from that day to call him, behind his back, ‘My nobs’.
1879		A.J. Leavitt Body Snatchers 3: bill: Hark, I perceive footsteps. Who’s the bloke coming down the street? joe: His Nobs.
1896		Ade Artie (1963) 43: Let me write to his nobs and I’ll fix him. [Ibid.] 102: They’ll put his nobs into cell 13.
1901		‘Hugh McHugh’ Down the Line 63: Kee Barclay, Jim Wilkinson and I were leaning over the counter talking to His Nobs, the Hotel Clerk.
1904		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 23 July 3: I’d been better off if I’d let it go at dat an’ stuck ter de Irish turkey—ah, corned beef, ain’t yer on?–wot Her Nobs hands out reg’lar.
1908		K. McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. xx: Me and his nobs grabbed our make-up boxes and took it on the lope for the ferry station.
1910		H. Hapgood Types from City Streets 181: Him and Her Nobs, his wife.
1915		G. Bronson-Howard God’s Man 277: Why didn’t you tip us His Nobs was coming.
1920		Ade Hand-made Fables 85: Right next to her Nobs is the famous preacher, Rev. Ormsby Toncell.
1922		B. Hecht A Thousand and One Afternoons [ebook] Aha! His nobs. A fiddler [...] And all dressed up in his wedding suit.
1933		Hecht & Fowler Great Magoo 167: His knobs in there has been stiff ever since – drinking to her success.
1935		R. Chandler ‘Nevada Gas’ in Spanish Blood (1946) 164: What do we do with his nobs?