1789. Geo. Parker, Life's Painter, p. 149. A kind of fellow who dresses smart, or what they term natty.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Mem., 10. From natty barouche down to buggy precarious.
1823. Bee, Dict. Turf, s.v.
1849. C. Bronte, Shirley, xv. Sweeting alone received the posy like a smart, sensible little man as he was, putting it gallantly and nattily into his button-hole.
1860. G. Eliot, Mill on the Floss, ii., 7. A connoisseur might have seen 'point' in her which had a higher promise for maturity than Lucy's natty completeness. Ibid., Silas Marner (1861), xi. Everything belonging to Miss Nancy was of delicate purity and nattiness . . . as for her own person it gave the same idea of perfect unvarying neatness as the body of a little bird.
1867. Latham, Dict., s.v., Natty, Smart, spruce [colloq.].
1872. Figaro, 22 June. A nattier rig you'll hardly twig.
1875. Ouida, Signa, iii., x., p. 221. It seems a nice easy trade, said Nita, tempted; and lying must be handy in it; that would suit him. No one lies so NATTILY as Toto.
1889. Harper's Mag., lxxix., 819. A very natty little officer, whose handsome uniform was a source of great pride and a matter of great pride to him.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, p. 24. Natty cove.
Natty-lad, subs. (thieves').—A young thief or pickpocket.—Grose (1785); Halliwell (1847).
Natural, subs. (old).—1. A mistress: see Tart.—B. E. (c. 1696); Grose (1785).
1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, ii. [Wks. (1720), iv., 47]. But where's your lady, captain, and the blowing, that is to be my natural, my convenient, my pure? Ibid., I., iv., Shamwell. Thou art i' th' right; but, captain, where's the convenient, the natural?
2. (colloquial).—An idiot; a simpleton.—B. E. (c. 1696); Grose (1785).
1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, ii., 4. This drivelling love is like a great natural, that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole. Ibid., Tempest (1609), iii., 2, 37. That a monster should be such a natural.
1609. Decker, Guls Horne-booke, ii. [Grosart, Works (1886), ii., 216]. They which want sleepe . . . become either mere naturals or else fall into the Doctor's hands.
1614. Rowlands, A Fooles Bolt is Soone Shott, 1. p. 22 (H. Club's Repr., 1873). The Duke of Brunswicke had a naturall, Whom all the Court did sotton Joris call.
1722. Steele, Consc. Lovers, ii., 1. I own the man is not a natural; he has a very quick Sense, tho' a slow Understanding.
1766. Colman, Cland. Marriage, i. [Works (1777), i., 177]. This ridiculous love! we must put a stop to it. It makes a perfect natural of the girl.
1825. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, ii., 15. He's your brother, I guess?—ain't he?—sort of a natteral, too, I guess?
1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1st S., No. xvi., p. 287. The man opened his mouth and closed it again; like, as Molly put it, a born NATURAL.
3. (old).—A bastard.—B. E. (c. 1696); Grose (1785).
4. (American thieves').—A clever, quick-witted, generous man.—Matsell (1859).
5. (obsolete).—See quot.
1888. Encycl. Brit, xxiv., 560 s.v. Wig. In 1724 the peruke-makers advertised full bottom tyes, full bobs, minister's bobs, naturals, half naturals . . . among the variety of artificial head gear which they supplied.
Adj. (American).—Not squeamish.—Matsell (1859).
