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Tropical Rythms's definitions

A + verb (no gerund)

Jamaican dialect usage

Origin

Old English pronoun + verb.

Eg.

We a-walking to school. Reminiscent of Shakespeare's stylistic poetry.

(Extract from an Appalachian English song)

On the Seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me. Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying.

(Extract from a nursery rhyme ca. 1905)
I saw the ship a-sailing, a-sailing on the sea, and oh!It was all laden, with pretty things for thee!

Influenced modern day Patois slang.

This usage fell into disuse in modern English and is now regional or dialectal. A similarity in usage can be noted in the European Portuguese language structure.
A + verb (no gerund)

We a walk to school.

She a talk to all of them.

When you a leave let me know.
by Tropical Rythms December 9, 2021
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From my eyes deh at me knees

From me eyes deh at me knees means since someone was a kid. Literally since their eyes were at their knees.
I've been hearing about that old man from my eyes deh at me knees. This expression paints the picture of how you have grown a lot, comparing the height you were as a kid to how you are now.
by Tropical Rythms December 6, 2021
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Blouse and skirt

Swearing with terms that refer to clothes are quite common in the Jamaican dialect.

Blouse and skirt is a swear word used by elders!

Equivalent:Damn, Frigging!

Other swear words that mention the use of clothes are bloodcloth, pussycloth, rasscloth, bombocloth (all pronounced clart or claat in Patois).
Yo blouse and skirt!leave people pickeney alone
by Tropical Rythms December 12, 2021
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Style

To style a person -
Jamaican slang - to disrespect a person/ thing or treat them in an unfair way.
Yo! Dawg! If you style the thing, yah know you in big trouble.

Bob: Eats his slice of cake and goes back to eat his friend's slice.

Peter: Don't try style me, my yute. You already had yours.
by Tropical Rythms October 11, 2019
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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
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Yah

Yah - vocalization of the word here in Jamaican dialect (Patois). Seen as vulgar by some.

The softer version is here/'ere.
Come yah - come here
Hear yah- hear this

Look yah - look here

See yah- see here

Watch yah - watch here

More from yah -move from here

Yah so - right here (like that)

There so - right there (like that)
by Tropical Rythms December 11, 2021
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Wash belly

Jamaican term for the youngest sibling in a family ; the last born.
You see him deh. That's my wash belly. He's 20 years old now. But, I still treat him like my baby.
by Tropical Rythms December 13, 2021
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