1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 358. The
next process is to look for some crack (some dry wood to light a
fire).
Adj. (colloquial).—Approaching perfection; used in a multitude or
combinations. A crack hand is an adept or ‘dabster’; a crack corps, a
brilliant regiment; a crack whip, a good coachman; etc. As a connecting
link between the adjective and the earlier use of crack, cf., The
crack.
1836. W. H. Smith, The Individual, 13 Nov. ‘The Thieves’ Chaunt.’
Her duds are bob—she’s a kinchin crack, and I hopes as how she’ll
never back.
1839. Thackeray, Fatal Boots (July). And such a crack-shot myself,
that fellows were shy of insulting me.
1859. Whitty, Political Portraits, p. 106. But he [the Earl of
Shaftesbury] has insisted on a recognition of the facts of our
appalling civilisation, and that was a good deal to do, which none
other than a Peer and crack Christian could hope to do. Ibid, p.
288. The whippers-in will never receive instructions to find the
addresses of the brilliances of Union debating clubs, bar messes,
and crack newspapers.
1865. M. E. Braddon, Henry Dunbar, ch. xx. Who was moreover a crack
shot, a reckless cross-country-going rider, and a very tolerable
amateur artist.
Verb (old).—1. To talk to; to boast. [The verb was once good English,
and in the sense of to talk or gossip is still good Scots. The modern
form to crack-up, is well within the borderland between literary and
colloquial English. The following quots., together with those under
crack-up, form an unbroken series].
1597. G. Harvey, Trimming of Nashe, in wks. (Grosart) III., 31. So
you may cracke your selfe abroad, and get to be reported the man
you are not.
1621. Burton, Anat. of Mel., I., II., III., xiv., 199, (1876). Your
very tradesmen, if they be excellent, will crack and brag, and show
their folly in excess.
1654. Witts, Recreations. And let them that crack In the praises of
sack, Know malt is of mickle might.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
2. (thieves’).—To force open; to commit a burglary. [A shorter form of
crack a crib (q.v.)]
1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. xix. The crib’s barred up at night
like a jail; but there’s one part we can crack, safe and softly.
3. (American thieves’).—To forge or utter worthless paper. [An
extension by analogy of ‘to crack,’ i.e., ‘to force,’ and ‘cracksman,’
a burglar.]