Tropical Rythms's definitions
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
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.
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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Get the Wash belly mug.Dead with laugh is an equivalent of lol used in Jamaica. Both are equally used to represent laughing in an exaggerated manner.
Abbreviation in text dwl
Not used in speech.
Origin: dying from laughter
Abbreviation in text dwl
Not used in speech.
Origin: dying from laughter
Could you tell me a joke from your country?
Sure!
Jamaican teacher to student:
Peter, use the word dandelion in a sentence
Peter: Miss the cheetah is faster dan de lion. Dwl (dead with laugh)
Sure!
Jamaican teacher to student:
Peter, use the word dandelion in a sentence
Peter: Miss the cheetah is faster dan de lion. Dwl (dead with laugh)
by Tropical Rythms December 12, 2021
Get the Dwl (dead with laugh) mug.Jamaican greeting
Similar to what's up, what's popping or what's happening used with friends in a casual setting.
Origin: from the two grapefruit soft drinks sold in Jamaica, Ting and Schweppes. The term ‘ting’ functions as a brand name and also a slang word meaning ‘thing’. Thus the phrase “you know the ting/schewppes” means “you know how things are/you know the situation”. Given the similarity between the two grapefruit drinks, “Ting” and “Schweppes” are used synonymously.
Similar to what's up, what's popping or what's happening used with friends in a casual setting.
Origin: from the two grapefruit soft drinks sold in Jamaica, Ting and Schweppes. The term ‘ting’ functions as a brand name and also a slang word meaning ‘thing’. Thus the phrase “you know the ting/schewppes” means “you know how things are/you know the situation”. Given the similarity between the two grapefruit drinks, “Ting” and “Schweppes” are used synonymously.
by Tropical Rythms August 8, 2020
Get the What's the scheweppes? mug.Colloquial way of saying for in the Jamaica. Can also be used to replace the word 'to' in a sentence.
In other Caribbean dialects fah, fa etc
In other Caribbean dialects fah, fa etc
How come you still haven't come fi the car?
You have fi call a bit earlier.
Also has/have + fi become haffi in fast spoken speech.
You haffi tell the truth.
You have fi call a bit earlier.
Also has/have + fi become haffi in fast spoken speech.
You haffi tell the truth.
by Tropical Rythms December 6, 2021
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Get the Rockstone mug.Jamaican expression
From (since) whappy killed Phillup.
From names of actually people.
Whappy + Phillup or Phillip.
Possibly origins -According to the Gleaner, in June 1951 a man name Aston Jolley aka Whappie King attacked and robbed two people. One of them died, but none of the victim’s names was Phillip. Instead, the news article at the time mentioned “Wappy King fillip” and this ended up being switched to “Wappy kill Phillup” over time. If that is the origins of the story then that would be truly disappointing and anti-climatic.
There is another theory involving a murder between two brothers from Portland called William(nickname Wappy) and Phillip. This happened in the 1940s and was a real headline grabber, mainly because similar to now Portland did not have alot of murders. This sounds far more realistic than the Aston Jolly case as I think Jamaicans are far too creative to build such a timeless saying off “Wappy King Fillip”. Gleaner Story
Used to exaggerate the number of years something has been taking place for;
A very long time
From (since) whappy killed Phillup.
From names of actually people.
Whappy + Phillup or Phillip.
Possibly origins -According to the Gleaner, in June 1951 a man name Aston Jolley aka Whappie King attacked and robbed two people. One of them died, but none of the victim’s names was Phillip. Instead, the news article at the time mentioned “Wappy King fillip” and this ended up being switched to “Wappy kill Phillup” over time. If that is the origins of the story then that would be truly disappointing and anti-climatic.
There is another theory involving a murder between two brothers from Portland called William(nickname Wappy) and Phillip. This happened in the 1940s and was a real headline grabber, mainly because similar to now Portland did not have alot of murders. This sounds far more realistic than the Aston Jolly case as I think Jamaicans are far too creative to build such a timeless saying off “Wappy King Fillip”. Gleaner Story
Used to exaggerate the number of years something has been taking place for;
A very long time
by Tropical Rythms March 5, 2022
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