Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (Aus. prison) a gentleman or educated convict.

1834

Sydney Monitor 19 July 2/2: [E]ven were all the specials† at Port Macquarie let loose in support of the ‘Spartan Band’ in Sydney. †This is the slang term for a gentleman, or educated convict.

2. (Aus. gambling) a racecourse tip.

1966

J. Holledge Great Aust. Gamble 153: [F]or a cash payment and a promise of 2½ per cent share of all winning, he guaranteed to send a couple of ‘specials’ for a coming race meeting.

3. a prostitute’s client who has any particular tastes, costumes, bondage, fetishes etc.

1981

A.K. Shulman On the Stroll 212: If anything, she was too straight, unwilling to roll or creep on the johns, no heart and specials.

4. (UK juv.) a pupil requiring special needs.

2001

OnLine Dict. of Playground Sl. 🌐 specials n. often a synonym for ‘disabled’ (mentally or physically) people.

5. (N.Z. prison) a visit in which a prisoner receives a package of contraband.

2001

D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 173/2: special n. 1 a visit during which an inmate receives contraband to smuggle back into the prison 2 (the special) a firearm.

6. (N.Z. prison/US) a firearm.

1930		J. Rodgers ‘‘Blue Yodel Number 9’ 🎵 Listen all you rounders, you better leave my women alone / ’Cause I’ll take my special and run all you rounders home.
2001		D. Looser Boobslang [U. Canterbury D.Phil. thesis] 173/2: special n. 2 (the special) a firearm.

7. (US short-order) a hot dog.

1957

Morn. Call (Allentown, PA) 24 Feb. 17/2: A hamburger may be ‘one on,’ and a hot dog a ‘special’.

8. Carlsberg Special Brew, a strong lager.

2012

R. Milward Kimberly’s Capital Punishment (2023) 396: Just one woman’s purse can go on providing you with fags and cans of Special for twenty-four hours.