first-rate (adj.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[first-rate 词源字典]
"of the highest excellence," 1660s, from first (adj.) + rate (n.) in a specific sense "class of warships in the British Navy." As a mere emphatic statement expressing excellence, by 1812. Colloquially, as a quasi-adverb, 1844.[first-rate etymology, first-rate origin, 英语词源]