Skip to main content

Tropical Rythms's definitions

Duppy bat

Sense 1:

The Erebid moth (Ascalapha odorata) which is also known as Black Witch, Sorrow moth, and Mourning moth, is called Duppy Bat in Jamaica.
Origin : circa 18th century. From bvb dupe or Akan adɔpe; a ghost or spirit.

The bat is believed to be the spirit of a deceased person in the manifestation of a bat. It is usually not at rest and has returned as a harbinger or to live in its abode among its old family and friends.

Sense 2: a silly person; an idiot
Nuff duppy bats live in the abandoned house.

Last night a duppy bat flew inside the house. The entire place was turned upside down.

Cho! A duppy bat, that. (That is a duppy bat) sense 2.
by Tropical Rythms December 11, 2021
mugGet the Duppy bat mug.

Upat

Me come from upat one place called George Town.
If you go upat the supermarket, you can get 3 fi 190 dollars.
by Tropical Rythms December 11, 2021
mugGet the Upat mug.

Redz

A lightskin male in Jamaica.

Female equivalent browning.
Yo, link redz 'bout the bike, bredda.
by Tropical Rythms December 10, 2021
mugGet the Redz mug.

Mix up and blender

In the Jamaican dialect, mix up refers to a mélange or mixture of rumours that's usually defamatory or based on gossip. A blender is often used in the Caribbean to make blended drinks or home-made beverages by mixing stuff together. The expression alludes to rumours blending together in a mess as if a blender were at work.
Bare mix up and blender we talk 'bout over yah.
by Tropical Rythms December 11, 2021
mugGet the Mix up and blender mug.

Vittle

Vittle - (prounced with a hard sound between b and v) refers to food in rural parts of Jamaica.
In some dialect on the island, the tt's become kk.

Origin from (archaic) victuals - food fit for human (or occasionally animal) consumption.

1860: William Carleton, Tales & Stories of the Irish Peasantry
...Balgruntie was bent on makin' the attempt, especially after he heard that the castle was well vittled, an' indeed he was meritoriously joined by his men, who piously licked their lips on hearin' of such glad tidin's.
One thing yah know, Marcia loves the vittle.

Yah go to the nine-nights later? Whole heap of vittle (is) over there.
by Tropical Rythms December 9, 2021
mugGet the Vittle mug.

Lion's paw

Jamaican greeting common among Rastas and locals of Jamaica. The salutation represents the strength of the lion of Judah. The fingers are curled like the paw of a lion and then interlocked with the other person's fingers and shook for at least 7 seconds.
Ras Wanye greeted his brethren with a lion's paw.
by Tropical Rythms May 20, 2020
mugGet the Lion's paw mug.

Eat-and-left(overs)

Informal- Eat-and-left(overs) in the Jamaican dialect refers to food remaining after a meal.

The over is often omitted in speech.

Standard form - leftovers used in writing.
Eat-and-left(overs) you really a-give me?
Move yah rass!
by Tropical Rythms December 10, 2021
mugGet the Eat-and-left(overs) mug.

Share this definition

Sign in to vote

We'll email you a link to sign in instantly.

Or

Check your email

We sent a link to

Open your email