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
Get the Duppy bat 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
Get the From (since) Whappy killed Phillup mug.Jamaican slang for condom.
(Only used in plural only) -boots
Origin from boots : Heavy shoe that covers part of the leg.
The third leg of a man is often referred to as his penis and it also has its own boots (a condom).
(Only used in plural only) -boots
Origin from boots : Heavy shoe that covers part of the leg.
The third leg of a man is often referred to as his penis and it also has its own boots (a condom).
by Tropical Rythms December 12, 2021
Get the Boots mug.Not a typical tea, but instead a kind of fish broth or soup made in Jamaica.
Origin: From the drinking of tea by the British at events and gatherings on the island. When the tea ran out soup was served at gatherings in tea cups instead ; This lead to the birth of what is known today as, fish tea.
Origin: From the drinking of tea by the British at events and gatherings on the island. When the tea ran out soup was served at gatherings in tea cups instead ; This lead to the birth of what is known today as, fish tea.
by Tropical Rythms August 8, 2020
Get the Fish tea mug.From the colour green which is usually associated with putrid stuff, bad breath or rotten food in the Caribbean.
Sobaco in Latin America
Sobaco in Latin America
Why yah smell so green? Go bathe yourself man!
You arm's green like lime bredda. Go buy q roll-on (deoderant) man!
You arm's green like lime bredda. Go buy q roll-on (deoderant) man!
by Tropical Rythms December 7, 2021
Get the Green mug.Box - verb
Short form of the expression to box someone's ears etc.
Box - noun
In Jamaica a box can be given anywhere on the face. It's not just limited to the ears.
Short form of the expression to box someone's ears etc.
Box - noun
In Jamaica a box can be given anywhere on the face. It's not just limited to the ears.
by Tropical Rythms December 6, 2021
Get the Box mug.Slang term similar to what's up, what's good ,whagwan? What have you been up to? What's keeping you busy?
Possibly Origin from the culture of scamming in Jamaica.
Scammers are know as choppas and scamming as chopping.
Overlaps with the expression chop chop as in get busy, get the ball moving.
Possibly Origin from the culture of scamming in Jamaica.
Scammers are know as choppas and scamming as chopping.
Overlaps with the expression chop chop as in get busy, get the ball moving.
by Tropical Rythms December 6, 2021
Get the Why chop? mug.