adj. (American).—First-class; the best of its kind; a latter-day superlative. For synonyms, see A1 and FIZZING.
c. 1889. Chicago Tribune (quoted in A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant). He’s a GILT-EDGED idiot to play the game.
1891. Standard, 18 June, p. 2, c. 1. ‘GILT-EDGED mutton’ is the latest of glorified and ‘boomed’ American products.
1891. Tit-Bits, 8 Aug., p. 286, c. 2. Another accomplishment, peculiar to the GILT-EDGED academy, is learning to eat asparagus, oranges, grapes, etc.
