FAQ Overview

preverbal progressive marker. Also spelled are. /a/ [Car.; from the covergence of an African preverbal marker (e.g. Ewe a habitual marker WES) and arch. Engl. a ("He's a-going"), possibly reinforced by are /ah/ in the present progressive; Guy. "a marks both continuative and iterative verb phrases" (Bickerton 1975:34)] indicates an action in progress. Rare: 1918 You see what I bin a-do? (Parsons 19). 1954 Is the same King now what are reign now (Crowley 225). Just they walk in the door, they start a-trying to rap with the girls (Nassau). See BEEN-A,. KEEP A-DO

copula /a/ [W Car. from Proto-Creole copula da or na; cf. Twi na idem (Alleyne 1980:89)] equates two noun phrases. Rare: No, Booky, dat a you! (Cat).

indefinite article  1. [Car.; OED, indefinite article; before a vowel-sound an] before vowel sounds: 1918 A apple (Parsons 12). 1936 Havin' mo' fun dan a I-lun man in a Ford truck (Dupuch 39). cf. ONE (Black)

2. [Car.] indicating a coin or bank note: A five cent, a five dollar (Gen.)

/abák/ [Caribbean; cf. Scots aback of time: ago EDD] adverb, ago: Five years aback. (Black)

/ábakow/ [probably Lucayan, but cf. also Spanish ábaco abacus and Twi abako shea-tree (Turner 1949:43)] n. a major island of the Bahamas: 1500 Habacoa (Craton 1962:45 quoting map). 1715 Habakoe (ibid 97). 1783 All those Loyalists who intend to settle at the island of Abbico (New York Morning Post, Nov. 7). 1869 Abaco, or, as it was sometimes called, Yucaya, Lucayoe, or Lucayaneque (Bacot 8). 1928 (A name) of Indian origin (Curry 20).

/abáras/ [from embarrassed by denasalization of initial vowel] adj. embarrassed: 1970 O how Jessie was abarrass! (Wallace 47).

/(a)báwt/ [OED, approximately] prep. 1. replaces at with times: This happen just about 7:02 p.m. (Black)

2. after certain verbs: We start discussing 'bout the problem. She describe about Christmas (COB). (Black)

taikin' 'bout [US Black idem (Keiser 1969:62, 64)] saying that: 1974 Six a them gone to Pat house... talking 'bout they ga kill him (King 8).

/éybram bush/ [etym?] n. 1. a shrub, Xylophylla epiplzyllanthus: 1920 (Britton 220). = HARD HEAD 3, (Gen.)

2. SWORD BUSH [cf. ABRAHAM CASSAVA] a shrub (sp?), which smells like cassava. (San Sal., Inagua)

/éybram kasáva/ [etym?] n. a variety of bitter cassava. (Black)

/abróhd/ [W Car.; OED, out of one's house (arch. in US)] adv. not at home; out: 1832 Some of our people gon abroad to see some of their friends (Farquharson 83). Women teach their children how to behave in their homes as well as abroad (Nassau). (Black)

/akára, akrá/ [Pan-Creole; cf. akara 'fritter made from ground blackeyed peas' throughout English-speaking Car., Martinique Fr., Brazilian Port. (Hancock 1969:48, 70); cf. Haitian akra malanga fritter HCEFD; cf. Yoruba àkàrà food made of black-eyed peas (Oyedeji p.c.)] n. fritters made of mashed beans: 1976 Yoruba foods . A'cara (Eneas 43). 1976 Accra. . fritters of blackeye peas, okra, and onions (Williams 49). 1978 Acaras . . . Mash dried cooked beans, add chopped onion and parsley, egg yolks . . . shape into balls . . . sauté (Higgs 65). (Black)

/akára/ (Adelaide); acara-cara /akàrakará/ (Inagua) [cf. use of okra in ACARA¹ (Williams 1976:49 quot.) and also Krio akarakuru (from Yoruba 'cake eaten by warriors on war expeditions') food made of fried beans, rice, and banana mixture" KED; cf. Yoruba akara-kuru preserved food used in earlier (war) expeditions consisting of parched beans and a sort of hard bread made of beans and corn (maize) flour (Johnson 1921:132)] n. a mucilaginous vegetable (sp?) resembling okra; it grows as a vine and its flowers are used to make soup.

[OEDS II ace US: a person outstanding in any activity] adj. excellent at; outstanding in: He ace on dancin'. He ace on hellishness (Nassau).

[from accompany, reanalyzed as indefinite article + n.] n. phr. a companion; company: 1918 I want him for a companee with inc in de fiel's (Parsons 79). (Black)

[cf. OED cross prep. →1821 and US dial. (a)crost idem ADD] prep. across: 1966 Lay acrost the bed (Crowley 87). A thought flash crost my mind (ibid 138). (Eleu.)

 [cf. act your age, use your head] phr. to use common sense: You a twenty-year-old woman and you can't act your head (Nassau).

phr. to show off: She like to add on when she see people looking at her (Nassau). (Black)

[cf. idem dial. Brit. Mid. EDD, US South ADD] v. to like: They leave cause they ain't admire their situation (Eleu.).

advantage [Car.; from to take advantage] v. to take advantage of; to cheat: He advantage him (San Sal.). (San Sal., Inagua)

[count noun from mass n.] n. pl. pieces of advice. cf. BAGGAGES, FURNITURES (Nassau)

It is now clear that a great deal more African culture survived in the New World than had been believed until very recently. Along with their customs, the Bahamians' African ancestors brought words for their customs, such as ASUE for a system of saving money, or WORRY for a certain game, or GOOMBAY for a kind of drum. Some of these words became a part of general English, such as banjo (BANJA), YAM (NYAM) or OKRA . Others remained part of the regional English of the Bahamas, usually not understood by people from other places. African loan words in this second category include the names of various foods such as ACARA, AGIDI, FUFU, and MOI-MOI. Others are everyday words such as JOOK, BENNY or YINNA, or exclamations like BLOO-JOOM! Some folktale characters retained their African names, such as BOOKY , IANANSI, BAMAKANSA, U-SANGE-WILEY, and the monster YEHO. Some African personal names have been preserved, such as CUFFEY, CUSHIE and QUAKOO. Until the end of the last century, Bahamians still referred to ethnic groups in Africa such as the MUNDINGO, ANGOLA, IBO, EGBA, and YORUBA, and even today many Bahamians know the terms CONGO and NANGO. Many other African words survive in disguise, such as POOR JOE, CUSS-CUSS and SHAKERS; these seem to be English words, but are actually African words which have been altered by folk etymology. Other African words or phrases have been translated word for word into English, such as SEED meaning 'tight curl of hair' or the expression GIVE ME FIVE. Finally, the range of meaning of some African words has affected the range of meaning of their English equivalents in the Bahamas, such as RED and YALLER used in reference to colors that British and American speakers would call orange, pink, brown, or tan.

/áfta/ [W Car; DJE, introducing an expression of protest; OED, subsequent to and notwithstanding, esp. in after all] conj. even though: You want your supper after you ain't give me no money for food? (Nassau, San Sal.)

I ain't after you. [cf. Brit. dial, to be after to court North, Mid EDD] phr. I'm not trying to please you. (Eleu., Exuma)

[from evening star by hypercorrection of evening afternoon] n. the planet Venus. (Nassau)

[Car.] conj. when: 1966 After when morning, we'll saddle up our dray and go (Crowley 65). (Andros).

[Atlantic; cf. OED, any more →1611; also dial. Irel. (L. Todd p.c.)] adv., any longer (after a negative): She don't love him again. (Black)

 /agíns/ [cf. DJE bigens idem; OED, in preparation for such time as conj. arch, or dial.; ADD idem] conj. in preparation for when: 1918 His wife go befo' an' cook, against he come back (Parsons 26). (Inagua)

/éyga/ (Black), hager /héyga/ (White) [Car.; cf. W3 ague /éygyuw/, dial. or arch. /éyga(r)/; as book word /eyg/] n. fever with chills: She must be have the ager cause she can't sit still (Nassau).

/agídi/, agiri /agíri/ [Atlantic; cf. Yoruba agidí prepared meal of Indian corn DYL] n. cornmeal mush: 1976 Agidi was always wrapped in almond leaves (Eneas 12). 1977 Agiri make out of grits (Shilling 50). (Nassau)

See GREE.

The plantation system of the Caribbean proper and the American South was never successful in the Bahamas because of the thin soil and uncertain rainfall. The loyalists' cotton plantations failed, as did later attempts at large-scale export of pineapples, sisal, and tomatoes, further thwarted by the great distance to markets, the quality of the produce, and high foreign tariffs. Moreover, the occupation of KEEPING FIELD is looked down upon, so while individual Bahamians might keep a small FARM in their yard for their family's own needs, most food must be imported.

However, some people do live by farming. These CULTIVATORS usually have their PLANTATIONS or PROVISION GROUNDS away from the settlement in the BACK LAND. While WHITE LAND is sufficient for GROUND VEGETABLES, also called GROUND FRUIT, the richer BLACK LAND, also called PROVISION LAND, is needed for other crops. Iron-rich RED LAND, also called PINEAPPLE LAND, is best for growing PINES; the PINE-SLIPS are planted in POT-HOLES, the entire PIECE forming an ORCHARD. Bananas and sugar cane are also grown in such cavities, also called BANANA HOLES.

Traditionally, new areas of LOW BUSH LAND are cultivated every few years since the soil quickly becomes exhausted and insect-infested. To CUT DOWN a field, the BUSH is CHOPPED with a MACHET and trees are LAPPED and left to dry. A BUSH FENCE may be left (or grown) in order to separate SQUARES. Finally the ground is BURNED OUT to rid it of insects and any remaining undergrowth. Tradition dictates that planting take place during a YOUNG or COMING MOON; if the moon is WASTING, the crop might WASTE, too—corn might BLAST and cane might BORE. A PLANTING STICK is used to make holes for the seeds, and in the rainy CROP SEASON the young plants soon BUMP UP. A BUGGY may be needed to bring in CAVE-EARTH as FERTILIZE; the PIECE may have to be cleaned several times of SPROUT-WEEDS or STOCK-WEEDS, and stumps may have to be BRUISED. As CROP TIME approaches, the farmer may sleep in a CAMP by his field to protect it, or have an OBEAH MAN FIX it against THIEFING with a GUARD. In former times the produce might have been collected in a CATACOO and transported in CHIRONES or CROOKS on the back of a donkey; today it is usually BUSHELED OFF into CROP BASKETS or CROCUS SACKS, also called STRAW BAGS.

As for animals, many yards have a few FOWL and their BIDDIES, some PIGS being fattened into HOGS, and a goat tethered nearby for milk and MUTTON.

/ágwa/ [Sp., water] n. water (generally known on southern islands and used when speaking to Cubans). (Inagua, Mayag.)

negator. /eyn/ [Gul., US Black idem (Burling 1973:71); cf. OEDS II ain't dial. and vulg. var. hain't have not] 1. did not: I ain' see him all last week. (Black).

2. do not: 1925 Bookie ain't know who do it yet (Finlay 294).

question marker. /eyn/ [Atlantic; from convergence of Eng. ain't (e.g. Ain't you comin'?) with African sentence-initial question markers, e.g. Mandinka kóri or Yoruba njé (Holm 1978:245)] Isn't it true that ... : 1936 Ain' d' King an' d' Kaizer is cuzzins? (Dupuch 65). 1977 Ain' you does bite? (Shilling 128). cf. UN, IS' 2 (Black)

/ákiy/ [from Kru a-kee W3] n. a tree, Blighia sapida, or its edible fruit: 1889 Akee . . . a handsome tree, 30 feet high (Gardner 373). 1928 The akee . . . came originally from Africa (Curry 62). 1978 Fried Achee: after removing seeds . . a fiery pink skin will be found on the. cream-coloured meat (Higgs 51). (Exuma, Inagua)

/(a)láhm/ [OED, to sound like an alarm 1839 only] v.i. (of alarm clocks) to go off: 1918 He must set the clock to alarm at twelve o'clock (Parsons 127). (Black)

—v.t. to sound the alarm (for something): Alarm the fire. (Inagua)

See ALOES.

/aléy dowmi'y/ [Haitian from Fr. allez dormir idem] phr. Go to sleep! (used by Bah. to Haitians). (Inagua, Mayag.)

[Car. also US Black (Loman 1967:40); OED, even →1808] adv. even, emphasizing the unusual or extreme: 1918 He had a feast, and he sent for all four-footed beasts that had horns. And all Be-Dog that had no horn they put on a false horn (Parsons 105). They looked all in her purse (Exuma). (Black)

[all of a sudden + in a flash] phr. suddenly. (Nassau, Mayag.)

[Car; cf. Brit. dial. North like all that very well EDI)] phr. Yes indeed! You're absolutely right! (Black)

/oh ray/ [Car.; cf. OEDS II, used to indicate approval; colloq.] phr. 1. a salutation said in passing or parting: "Good afternoon, Miss Mabel!" "All right, chile, how you doin'?" (Nassau). cf. OKAY (Black)

2. a farewell (only). (White)

/ohl truw/ [from prep. phr., e.g. all through the night] phr. during the entire period: It was raining all through [the week] (Nassau). (Black)

[Pan-Creole; cf. Port. Cr. túdu dos or tudos (lit. all two) idem, vs. Port. ambos (Meintel 1975:216); OED obs. → 1420] phr. both: 1918 So they all two got up in de tree (Parsons 94). Zelly and her sister all two on 'em big right up for them two Johnson brothers (Nassau). (Gen.)

[W. Car.; etym? but see quot.] n. a tree, annona palustris, and its fruit: 1889 Alligator apple . . . unpalatable to man, liked by alligators (Gardner 363). = MONKEY APPLE, POND APPLE, CUSTARD APPLE 1 (Inagua)

[from Sp. aguacate avocado + PEAR from shape] n. the avocado: 1889 Alligator pear (Persea gratissima) (Gardner 403). = AVOGADO, PEAR (Black)

/óhlmakow/ [cf. W3 albacore a fish, Thunnus germo and related sp. including bonitos, jacks] n. a jackfish: 1968 Almaco jack, Seriola rivoliana (Bohlke 341). We caught an almaco (Albury 111). (Gen.)

/áhman/ [Trin. (Winer p.c.); OED different sp.] n. a tree, Terminalia catappa, or its fruit: 1827 The almond ... [is] common here (Culmer 32). 1936 I get up in one ammon tree (Dupuch 75). 1976 Our almond trees bear a fruit . . . oval in shape, with a thick skin which covered a seed almost as large as the fruit itself. In this seed is a kernel . . . like the commercial almonds that we now buy, but not as large (Eneas 12). = COUNTRY ALMOND (Gen.)

[probably from its resemblance to ALMOND and BEEFWOOD] n. a tree (sp?): 1977 (Albury 25). (Gen.)

/álawis, álavis, hálavis; áluz; álowz/ [cf. W3 aloes /álawiy; álow(z), álaz/] n. a plant, Aloe vera, whose succulent, spike-like leaves are used medicinally: Ya know hallavis bitter tea (Brown 36). = BELLY-ACHE PLANT, PAIN-A-BELLY BUSH, HEALING PLANT (Gen.)

prep. 1. [OED idem. arch. and dial. South; also US dial. ADD] because of: 1929 They were ready to assure me that I need have "no cause to fear along o' dat" (Defries 117).

2. [cf. Gul lʌŋ(ə) with (Hancock 1969:67)] Obs? with: 1917 My mudder ... married along of a coloured feller (Defries 83). 

◊ Compare prepositions in the phrases married along of and MARRIED WITH which correspond to English marry (to).

[cf. ALONG OF 2 and Pan-Creole merger of prep., with and conj. and, e.g. Pap. ku, Sra. nanga (cognate of along of), and Haitian ak; cf. African parallel in Wolof ak with, and (Sylvain 1936:164)] conj. and (joining two nouns): They along with my uncle were by my house (Nassau). The two sisters along with Tad lived together (Nassau).

copula 1. [cf. A² idem (the bilabial nasal /m/ may have resulted from the following bilabial stop /b/ in the quot.) but cf. also Brit. dial. Mid. am after you, she, we, they (Orton M4-7)] to be: 1888 Oh, Lord, de tief am bad (Powles 166). 2. [US dial. South, Black I'm is the one; I'm am ADD; by monophthongization of /aym/ to /am/] I (am): Am goin' downtown (Dupuch p.c.). (Black)

See MAKE A MAZE.

[Car.; cf. almaco jack, Seriola rivoliana] n. a fish, Seriola dumerili: 1972 (Chaplin 20). = OCEAN JACK (Gen.)

[from color] n. the white guava, Psidium sp., with yellowish fruit. (Gen)

[from US origin] n. the northern pear, Pyrus communis, as opposed to the avocado pear. = BARTLETT PEAR, FALSE PEAR (Eleu.)

[probably from US origin of many manufactured goods, but cf. Brit. dial. West American rake machine for raking hay EDD] n. a factory-made rake as opposed to a home-made one: American rake, not bush rake. = FAN RAKE Cf. BUSH BROOM (Exuma)

n. 1. (from color] an albino cockroach (not unusual) (San Sal.) 2. [from size] the small one-inch cockroach (Blattella gernzanica) as opposed to the three-inch DRUMMER ROACH. = CHINESE ROACH, HAITIAN ROACH, NASSAU ROACH (Gen.)

 n. pneumonia: Take off them wet clothes fore you catch ammonia (Nassau). (Gen.)

/(a)nádi/ [W Car. nata idem; from Carib onoto via Am. Sp. anate DJE] n. a shrub, Bixa orellana, with red berries producing a dye: 1966 (Crowley 118).

/(a)nánsi/ Also Nanza, Nassy, Nasty [Pan-Creole; cf. Haitian annasi idem TDKF; cf. US Black Ann Nancy ... spin her house (Backus 1898:289); cf. Twi ananse spider DJE and Ibo Anaiza spider, folk-tale character (Okolo p.c.)] n. 1. a spider (sp?) up to three inches long which constructs webs between trees. (Nassau)

2. a folk-tale hero: 1917 B'o' Nanza (Cleare 229). 1918 Ber Nancy . .. B'o' Nassy . . . Dis man name Annancy (Parsons 87, 89, 107). 1966 B' Anansi-or Nansi, Boy Nasty, or Gulumbanasi-a trickster and hero, either boy, man, or monkey . . . (but) B' Spider is the only web-spinning trickster in the Bahamas (Crowley 29).

[cf. Sp. anchova anchovy] n. the young of the pilchard, a fish related to the sardine. (Eleu.)

/an/ [OED, used to connect the unit numbers with the tens when they precede ... as in one and twenty] conj. (in numbers): 1895 Ninety-an'-nine (Edwards 83). (Black) 

◊ In some communities (e.g. Exuma) this usage of and is found only among older speakers, but elsewhere (e.g. Mayaguana) it is used also by the young.

phr. without (doing something): You hardly go out and don't make a day's pay. (Black)

/an siy/ [cf. SEEING THAT] phr. because: I put water in dere and see no water was dere. (Black)

/an dem/ [Car.; cf. AND THOSE] phr. and associates: They forever talking bout the gov'ment corrupt and the ministers and them doing all the damage (Nassau).

/an ting/ [E Car., Gul.; cf. Yoruba ati gbogbo nkan miràn (lit, and all other things) 'etc.' (Oyedeji p.c.)] phr. etcetera: 1936 But I only stayin' here t' get muh li'l sofisticashun an' t'ing (Dupuch 16). (Black)

/an d(h)owz/ [cf. US dial. South Mr. Smith and those Mr. Smith and the others of his family WSC; hypercorrection (by analogy of DEM PEOPLE those people) of pluralizing -DEM, e.g. Mary-dem Mary and her family or associates] phr. and associates: When the police arrived, Father and those were still looking for the thief (Nassau). (Gen.)

/ándrows, ándras/ [cf. quot., also the Greek island Andros] n. the largest island of the Bahamas. Its earliest names include Isla Santa (1501 Cantino map), Abacoa (1523 Turin map), and Cabacos (1529 Ribero map) according to Curry (1928:26). The name Andros seems to have been first used in the 18th century, when it is found in a 1731 reference to "the islands of Andros and Ilathera" (Catesby 30) and on a 1771 map as Andres and in 1786 as Andross (Fenning & Collyer 58). Bell (1934:141) suggests that the name derives "perchance from the fact that upon the ceding of the island of St. Andro (sic) on the African (sic) Mosquito Coast to Spain, the inhabitants were given Andros to settle upon." The British protectorate of the Mosquito Shore (1741-1786) on what is today the eastern coast of Nicaragua and Honduras, included the island of San Andres. Parsons (1918:ix) notes that "the bulk of (Andros') original settlers . migrated to the island from the Mosquito Coast in 1783". An 1823 document (quoted by Porter 1945:58) refers to the island as St. Andrews. Bell (op. cit.) suggests an alternative source, "Sir Edmund Andros, Commander of the Forces in Barbados in 1672" without explaining the possible connection.

[descended from Andros people, who are supposedly irascible] adj. short-tempered: She Andros-descent! (Nassau).

[from the name of the area in Africa; from ki-Mbundu ngola a tribal name, via Port. (Alvarez Nazario 1974:254); cf. GULLAH ] n., Obs. a tribal name (evidently used loosely): 1792 Run away . . . a Negro Man of the Angola country (Bahama Gazette)

/ánam/ [cf. ON of, and colloq. 'ern them] prep. phr. of them: It was two annum (Eleu.).

[Car.] phr. You're an additional nuisance (used as a mild rebuke): He's make me mad, and you's another one (Nassau).

[Car.] v. phr. to reply (not neces-sarily impertinently): 1918 De dawg answered de man back (Parsons 166). (Nassau)

/ántem/ [Gul. idem "Slave songs or ant'ems, as they were sometimes called in Georgia before the Civil War (Parrish 1942:5); OED, a composition, in prose or verse, sung antiphonally, or by two voices or choirs; responsively obs. → 1782] n. a religious song, especially among Baptists: 1888 "A hymn's more melodious dan wot an antem is". . In the case of the antem the refrain is repeated after every line (Powles 67, 159). 1895 They sing their most mournful hymns and "anthems" (Edwards 17). (Gen.)

/(h)ants/ [Atlantic; from pl. ants] n. sing. or pl. ant or ants: 1895 Hants here! (Edwards 64). This ants... them antses (Nassau). (Gen.)

/apás/ [OED appassed , apast past participle past by ... often used as adv. or prep. obs. →1450] adv., Obs? past; across: 1918 Le' po' Rabby get apass (Parsons 3).

[cf. DARE appendix taken as pl.] n. appendix (in anatomy). (Gen.)

[OED, exciting a desire or longing, esp. for food] adj. (of persons) appealing. (Exuma) 

◊ The Bahamian usage of appetizing carries no connotation of sexual attraction as popular American and British usage often does.

[by shortening] n. I. pineapple: 1885 The apples, as they always call the pines here (Brassey 342). (San Sal.)

2. the SUGAR APPLE or JAMAICA APPLE (Gen.)

/áhchitek/ [Belize idea: (Dayley 1979); spelling pronunciation] n. architect. (Nassau)

/ági/ (Gen.); áhgi (Andros); áygi (Exuma); hági (Eleu.)/ [cf. Scots idem CSD, US dial. Mid., South idem DARE] v. to argue (with): 1954 Don't argee me! (Crowley 222). Every little thing you gotty argie for! (Nassau). (Black)

/áhgimen/ [cf. ARGIE and OED argument to argue obs. →1637] v. to argue: 1936 Me an' Unkle Gabe wuz stannin' up by d' market tawkin' an argementin' 'bout tings (Dupuch 83). (Black)

/ahm/ [W Car.] n. armpit; upper arm, as opposed to HAND hand and arm below the elbow. (Gen.)

/áhmowl/ [W. Car.; Brit. dial. North, Mid EDD] n. armpit: She have plenty hair in her arm-hole (Nassau).(Black)

/áruwt/ [from Arawak aru-aru meal of meals, assimilated to arrow and root, the tubers having been used to absorb poison from arrow and other wounds] n. the arrowroot plant, Maranta arundinacea, which produces an edible starch. cf. INDIAN ARROWROOT (Andros)

/ahsníka/ [etym. uncertain, but cf. Sp. asnico little ass, perhaps from its cry] n. the great blue heron, Ardea herodias: 1880 (Cory 166). = MORGAN (Gen.)

/ári/ [US dial. idem from e'er a ever a DARE] adj., Obs.? any: 1895 Dey ain't ary man in de worl' can pull me in de sea! (Edwards 65). cf. NARY

[cf. US dial. South ascared ADD; from hypercorrection of scared by analogy with fraid afraid] adj. afraid. (Gen.)

[Atlantic; from pl. ashes] n. sing. or pl. ash or ashes. (Mayag.)

[W Car.; cf. ASHES and US Black "Ashes takes up from de body de disease" (Smiley 1919:358)] n. water mixed with ashes to bathe the sick or dead. = LYE WATER (Mayag.)

[DJE different sp.; cf. ASHES] n. a shrub, Cassia alata?; the wood is burned, then ground into a powder applied on ringworm. = RINGWORM BUSH (Nassau)

[Car.; cf. Vir. move you rass and Cr. Fr. ko (from Fr. corps body) in bougé ko-ou same meaning (Highfield p.c.) and Trin. Sp. cuelpe refl. pron. from Sp. cuerpo body (Moodie 1978: 12); cf. parallels in African languages, e.g. Yoruba ara mi (lit. body my) myself (Oyedeji p.c.) or Nilotic ro body, self (Homburger 1957:131); cf. Ibo dialect equivalent of "my buttocks" for 'myself' (Achebe 1969:134); cf. also US Black ass oneself (Major 1971) "III knew it'd kill my ass, I'd follow" (Gold) and colloq. Save your ass etc. and synecdoche] quasi refl. pron.: Watch your ass Watch yourself (a, warning). Carry your ass Get out. My ass got stuck with that I got stuck with it myself. cf. SKIN, HIP (Gen.)

/eysuw/ [cf. Trin. sou-sou cooperative savings (Ottley 23), Cam. susu , isusu thrift and loan society; from Yoruba èésú, èsúsú thrift club DYL. Among the Yoruba "Esusu is a universal custom for the clubbing together of a number of persons for monetary aid. A fixed sum agreed upon is given by each at a fixed time (usually every week) and place, under a president; the total amount is paid over to each member in rotation. This enables a poor man to do something worthwhile where a lump sum is required." (Johnson 1921:119)] n. a cooperative savings system: 1976 The asue was a system of saving money, and financing. . Small groups of people would place in the hands of asue keepers an equal sum of money every week; this was called a hand. Each week one of the participants was given the sum total of all the hands and this was repeated each week until all hands were drawn, and then the process started all over again. (Eneas 17). 1982 First Home proudly introduces The Asue savings plan account. Throw as often as you like; throw as many hands as you like (Guardian, Jan. 23). (Black)

prep. 1. [also Guy. (Rickford 1976:34) and US Black (Parsons 1917b:224); cf. OED at to obs.→ 1601] to: 1918 He came at the gate, started singing (Parsons 165). 1966 That blow he cut at me, and it knock me right here at this desk (Crowley 109). cf. TO at

2. [OED at of all towns, except the capital, in contrast to US in regardless] in (a small town): at Abraham Bay (Mayag.).

3. [OED at of small and distant islands] in, on (an island): 1888 at Inagua (Powles 270). (Black)

/áhta/ [Atlantic; Brit., US dial. idem OED, ADD] prep. after: 1936 Dey cum out laffin' an' tawkin' like li'l chillun wen dey hear d' teacher got small pox an' dere ain' gon be no school 'til arter d' funeral (Dupuch 56). (San Sal.)

[from earlier celebration on the eve of August 1] n. a holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery in the Bahamas on August I, 1834: 1895 On great occasions, as 'Augus'eve' night", the celebration of the emancipation of African slaves on British soil (Edwards 18). After an all-night church service on August Eve, people would go home at sunrise, freshen up, and then return to a hall for feasting and dancing (Mayag.). cf. AUGUST MONDAY

[from time of blossoming] n. a plant (sp?) with small pink flowers. (Black)

August Monday (Black), August Holiday (White), August Day (Nassau) [from celebration on the first Monday in August] n. phr. a holiday commemorating emancipation. cf. AUGUST EVE

/áhnti/ n. 1. Obs? [US a colored woman DAE; SA idem; cf. Réunion Cr. Fr. tãtin idem (Chaudenson 1974:100)] a term of address to any older woman, related or not: 1888 "If you want the gentleman to give you something, aunty," says Mr. Morely, "you ought to dance for them" [speaker unrelated] (Powles 175).

2. [euphemism] An illegitimate child who is being reared in a grandparent home calls its grandmother "Marna" and its mother "Aunty" (Otterbein 1966:124). (Black)

[cf. Vicky, diminutive of Victoria, and /w, v/ alternation, plus AUNTY 1] n. an affectionate name for Queen Victoria, popularly associated with emancipation, which occurred at the beginning of her reign: 1940 I never see summuch peepul in one place since d' Dook o' Windsor Ian' t' Rawson Square an' errybuddy rush down t' d' dock t' see Anty Vickie great grandson (Dupuch 95). (Black)

[from custom of writing one's signature on its leaves] n. a tree (Clusia rosea) whose leaves retain permanently the imprint of marks, writing, etc. = WILD MAMMEE (Nassau)

[from judging from the average] v. to guess; to calculate: They see your clothes and they average you rich (Nassau). You could never average who coming [to a party, in order to prepare the right amount of food] (Nassau). (Nassau, Mayag.)

/avagáda, abagáda (Inagua); abakáda (Exuma); apakáda (Mayag.); alvakáda (Inagua)/ [cf. Guatemalan Sp. avocate (in contrast to standard Sp. aguacate) WFF and OED avogato 1697] n. the avocado, Persea gratissima: 1788 Avogado tree (Schoepf 307). 1830 Abbogada pears (quoted by Defries 1917:xix). 1889 Alvocado pear (Gardner 403). = ALLIGATOR PEAR, ALLIGATOR TREE, PEAR

[E Car. (Ottley 61, Yansen 13); cf. Haitian laba idem HCEFD] n. abroad; overseas: 1966 We can't get no flour and rice from away (Crowley 58). (Black)

/aks/ [Atlantic; OED ask "Old English acsian, axian ask survived in ax, down to nearly 1600 the regular literary form, and still used everywhere in midi. and south. dialects, though supplanted in standard English by ask, originally the northern form") v. to ask: 1888 When cockroach gib dance, him no ax fowl (Powles 167). 1895 Dey hax 'em, "Whey B' Spider?" (Edwards 66). 1966 The old lady aks the goil the question (Crowley 54). (Black)

[cf. preceding] n. the avocado tree: 1976 Gather the leaves. . . from the alligator tree. . . to make the pear-leaf tea (Eneas 13). AVOGADO (San Sal., Inagua)

It is now clear that a great deal more African culture survived in the New World than had been believed until very recently. Along with their customs, the Bahamians' African ancestors brought words for their customs, such as ASUE for a system of saving money, or WORRY for a certain game, or GOOMBAY for a kind of drum. Some of these words became a part of general English, such as banjo (BANJA), YAM (NYAM) or OKRA . Others remained part of the regional English of the Bahamas, usually not understood by people from other places. African loan words in this second category include the names of various foods such as ACARA, AGIDI, FUFU, and MOI-MOI. Others are everyday words such as JOOK, BENNY or YINNA, or exclamations like BLOO-JOOM! Some folktale characters retained their African names, such as BOOKY , IANANSI, BAMAKANSA, U-SANGE-WILEY, and the monster YEHO. Some African personal names have been preserved, such as CUFFEY, CUSHIE and QUAKOO. Until the end of the last century, Bahamians still referred to ethnic groups in Africa such as the MUNDINGO, ANGOLA, IBO, EGBA, and YORUBA, and even today many Bahamians know the terms CONGO and NANGO. Many other African words survive in disguise, such as POOR JOE, CUSS-CUSS and SHAKERS; these seem to be English words, but are actually African words which have been altered by folk etymology. Other African words or phrases have been translated word for word into English, such as SEED meaning 'tight curl of hair' or the expression GIVE ME FIVE. Finally, the range of meaning of some African words has affected the range of meaning of their English equivalents in the Bahamas, such as RED and YALLER used in reference to colors that British and American speakers would call orange, pink, brown, or tan.

 /ba/. Also bra. [Atlantic; from brother, but cf. also Brit. dial. East bor, bo' term of familiar address applied to either sex and of all ages, converging with African usage, e.g. Temne, Vai bɔ or Mandinka ba friend, term of address among equals (Hancock 1971:638, 1975: 252); cf. also Yoruba egbon (lit. older brother) used before names of male peers (Oyedeji p.c.); cf. also Haitian fre. bra idem HCEF] n. 1. friendly term of address to a male peer: 1925 Ber, war yer dar do yer? (Finlay 294). 1936 Bo . . . familiar address meaning 'brother' (Dupuch 121). (Black)

2. [cf. Mandinka kɔrɔ elder brother, used as title before animal names in fables (Dalby 1972:178)] a title: 1895 In our own [US] negro-lore, the animals are called "Brer" by Harris and "Buh" by Jones; among the Bahamas negroes, the term is contracted to "B'", and so one finds . . . "B' Rabby" (Edwards 19). 1918 B'o' Rabby . . Bur Bookee (Parsons 122). (Black) 

◊ The names of certain folk-tale characters, especially B' Rabby, seldom occur without this title.

[Car.; OED, baby ... literary and poetic; colloq. pretty girl] n. a term of endearment (also applied to children, men, etc.): Hey, babe, wha's happenin'? (Nassau). (Black)

[OED, formerly synonymous with child; now usually restricted to an infant in arms] n. a child up to approximately five years of age.

 [ etym?] n. a plant, Rivina humilis, with white flowers and red stems: 1972 (Durrell 84). (San Sal.)

adv. 1. [Car.; DJE "often used pleonastically"] used redundantly for emphasis: 1918 He will return back (Parsons 133). Reverse the car back (Exuma).

2. [Car.] after another post-verbal adverb: I goin' home back. (Nassau)

3. [Atlantic; cf. Sra. baka and Ewe megbe back ... again (Herskovits 1941:290); cf. also Yoruba pada back, again (Oyedeji p.c.)] again, as before: Lock it back and bring the key (Acklins). (Black)

n. 1. [euphemism] bladder; ability to hold one's urine: 1904 To strengthen babies' backs (i.e. kidneys) and keep them from wetting their beds, give them roasted rats (Clavel 37). cf. WEAK BACK (Black)

2. [cf. MCC ten back o' shell ten (turtle) shells (Holm 1978); cf. Ibo azu back, shell as of crab (Okolo p.c.)] shell (of crabs or turtles): 1978 Remove all meat from back, or shield of the turtle . . . Place [crab meat mixture] in clean shell backs (Higgs 15, 21). (Gen.)

3. [cf. Australian outback backcountry W3] the shore on the side of the island away from the settlement: 1977 Cyril went down on the "back" to look for firewood (Albury 126). (Gen.)

bring the back together [cf. BACK n. 1.] phr. to bind the abdomen of a recently delivered woman to restore the womb to its usual position: 1980 (Dorsett 7). in the back [cf. BACK-HOUSE 2 ] phr. to the toilet: I goin' in the back. (Andros, Eleu.)

prep. [from use of the adverb without a locative preposition] in, on (a town or island one has left): She live back Long Island. (Gen.)

v. 1. [Car.; from Brit. dial. back to carry on one's back EDD; US dial. idem DARE] to carry on one's back: He too heavy to back. (Exuma, San Sal.)

2. to toss (a certain number on dice): 1978 Back nine, nigger! (Smith 6).

See TOBACCO DOVE.

[Car.; from the noun W3] v. to reply impertinently: That boy would back-answer his daddy. (Gen.)

[from a combination of back up and step aside] v. phr. to step back; to move out of the way: Boy, back aside and let me pass 'fore me and you don't have a fight (Nassau).

[Car.; from back (up) v. + back adv.; both separable and inseparable: cf. Gul. backin' de gig back (Parsons 1923:78), US dial. North He backed the horse back ADD, Bajan backed back (Collymore 1965:92), Jam. backing back the truck (S. Wilmot p.c.); vs. Trin. back-backing (Ottley 1971:62) and US dial. Mid. back-back the train ADD]

v. phr. to back up; to reverse (a vehicle): compare He backin' back (Exuma). vs. He back-backin' (San Sal.). (Black)

n. (in wrestling) holding someone across one's back, with one arm around his leg and the other around his neck, then applying pressure. (Andros)

[US in reference to the 'backs' of colonies facing the Atlantic Ocean DAE 1755 n. the area inland from a coastal town; the interior of an island: 1880 We were able to observe the back country [of New Providence] and to see no small portion of the island (Ives 57). = BACK-LAND (Inagua)

v. phr. to move over (on a bench to make room for another). (Andros, Eleu.)

n. I. [US a house behind the main building DAE] a thatched hut for cooking behind the main house. (Mayag., Inagua)

2. [US dial. idem ADD] a privy; an outdoor toilet: I coming right back—I gotty go to the back-house 'cause I want pee (Nassau). (Gen.)

[US lands lying behind the more settled or accessible areas DAB] n. the area inland from a coastal town; the interior of an island. = BACK-COUNTRY (Black)

[cf. BUSH 1 forest] n. phr. deep in the forest, away from other settled areas: Haitians are usually found in the back of the bush. (Black)

[cf. US back yard idem DAE] n. phr. the area behind a house: 1936 Why y' don' lemmuh go back in de back o' d' yard where I safe? (Dupuch 29). 1976 Irrespective of the size of "back o' the yard", there were certain essentials present (Eneas 3). (Black)

[cf. US back street a street lying in a back area or running behind the main buildings in a town; back road a road, esp. an inferior one, leading or lying away from the main one DAB; cf. CORNER sidestreet] n. any street other than the FRONT STREET or main street running along the sea: 1796 Shirley Street, formerly named Back Road (Bahama Gazette, July 1). (Gen.)

[E Car.; from the noun DAE] v.t. to talk to someone impertinently: Don't you back-talk me! (Gen.)

n. (of a car) trunk or boot: I's always tell mama put all a we bag in the back trunk (Nassau).

[cf. back-up in reserve] n. one's wife at home in contrast to an unofficial one elsewhere. (Nassau)

[W Car.; Brit. dial. North idem EDD, US dial. idem ADD] adv. backwards. (Black)

[Belize large posterior (Dayley 1979)] n. buttocks (not necessarily large). (Nassau)

have a lot of bacons [cf. OED to sell one's bacon, i.e. one's flesh or body; DAB to save one's bacon to save one's flesh from injury; cf. save your ass] phr. to have large buttocks: She have a lot of bacons. (San Sal.)

adv. [Atlantic; an African calque: cf. Mandingo A ka nyi ko-jugu (lit. It is good badly) It is very good (Dalby 1972:177) or Shona zvakáipa badly, as intensifier (Carter p.c.); cf. also Yoruba O dara burukuburuku (lit. It's good bad-bad) It's very good (Oyedeji p.c.)] very: 1918 I sick bad (Parsons 30). She smart bad (Exuma). (Black)

—adj. 1. [Pan-Creole; cf. Haitian michan wonderful (vs. Fr. méchant bad) HCEFD; cf. US Black too bad excellent (Sebastian 1934:28a) and bad idem BDNE II] very good; excellent: 1974 bad: good (King 26). (Black)

2. [cf. bad wicked] (of laughter) malicious: He laugh bad. (Eleu.)

3. [Trin. idem (Winer p.c.); cf. Krio bad dog dog which bites without provocation KED; cf. also Haitian michan brave, enterprising (vs. Fr. méchant bad) HCEFD] fierce: Bad dog [sign on gate]. Shine daddy say, "Son, if you bad enough, you hit him one more time" (Nassau).

[W Car.; from bad + reduplication cf. Yoruba burukuburuku (lit. bad-bad) very bad(ly) (Oyedeji p.c.)] adj. very bad; of the very worst kind: She bad-bad—don't nobody want cross her path (Nassau). (Black)

adj. of children: unruly. (Black)

[Car.; a calque; cf. Yoruba inu mi kò dara (lit. belly my not good) My stomach is upset (Oyedeji p.c.)] n. phr. abdominal illness: 1918 B'o' White-Bud was sick, he got bad bellee (Parsons 110). (Gen.)

n. 1. [from association with the Wasser-man blood test] syphilis (Dupuch p.c.)

2. [cf. Ibo mea jonjo (lit. blood bad) idem (Okolo p.c.)] in the phr. have bad blood: (of people) to lack resistance to infection: She have dem things on her skin 'cause she have bad blood (Nassau). (Black)

[Car.; cf. BAD; OED, obs. comparative of bad, US dial. idem ADD] adj. worse: He badder dan you, boy (Nassau). (Black)

/bad nof/ [Car.] adj. phr. dangerously ill: From what I see she bad 'nuff—she was just coughing and sneezing up a breeze (Nassau). (Black)

[Car.] n. 1. nausea, especially with a headache and cold sweat and general malaise.

2. the bad feeling(s) morning sickness: She get the bad feelin's. (Gen.)

/baj/ n. I. [from barge /bahj/?] a sea pen for keeping conchs alive.= CRAWL (Grand Bah., San Sal.)

2. [from batch] a batch, as of concrete for mixing. (Andros)

[Car.; cf. Car. Sp. "pelo calificado de malo de negro" (Alvarez Nazario 1974:358); from obsolete value system in which things African were bad and things European were good] n. very curly hair: Tha's what you call had hair—just look at all them peas (Nassau). White people got good hair—most the black people-own bad (Nassau). cf. KNOTTY, PEASY, PICKY, TIGHT (Black)

[a calque; cf. HEAD (IS) NOT GOOD] adj. forgetful; stupid; mentally unstable: 1936 Dat bad-head woman on d' radio name Gracie Allen (Dupuch 23). (Black)

-n. forgetfulness; stupidity; mental instability: I got bad head -- das why I does forget where I put tings (Nassau). (Black)

/bad lókid/ [Car.] adj. unlucky: She so bad-lucked she even can't find a job (Nassau). (Black)

[Atlantic] adj. evil-minded; suspecting the worst; malevolent: They don't trust him, 'cause he bad-minded (Nassau). (Black)

/bad mawt/ v. [Gul. idem; calque from e.g. Vai da na ma, lit., a bad mouth, i.e. a curse (Turner 1948:7) or Mandingo da-jugu or Hausa mugum-baki idem (Dolby 1972:177); cf. BDNE I idem] to slander: She always bad-mouthin' people (Exuma). cf. BAD-TALK

[cf. BAD good] phr. You're looking good (i.e. well-dressed, etc.). (youth slang): Boy, you look bad out there—I take you for model (Nassau). (Black)

[W Car.; cf. BAD-MOUTH idem] v.t. to slander; to verbally abuse. (Eleu.)

[from standard mass noun + -s] n. pl. (count noun) pieces of baggage: She done take all her baggages with her (Nassau). (Black)

[cf. US trade name Baggies, small plastic bags for storing food] n. a small plastic bag filled with frozen flavored sugar-water, usually sold in the street: Baggy is made with mixed Kool-Aid in sandwich bags and then frozen (Nassau). (Black)

n. 1. [see BAHAMAS] Obs. the former name of Grand Bahama: 1786 Bahama, from which the rest of these islands take their name, is seated . . . to the east of Florida, and. . . west of the island of Lucaya (Penning & Collyer 58). Cf. GREAT BAHAMA.

2. [earliest DAE use in combinations 1789 →] pertaining to the Bahamas: 1784 Bahama Gazette.

◊ This usage is now largely replaced by Bahamas or Bahamian except in set phrases, such as Bahama Islands.

3. a Bahamian (used chiefly by Haitians speaking English). (Eleu.)

[from the resemblance of its tall flowering spine to bamboo; cf. BAMBOO POLE idem] n., Obs. a variety of cactus, Agave rigida: 1835 hemp manufactured from the Bahama bamboo (Journal 4). = BAMBOO, MAYPOLE 1, VANILLA

n. a constrictor snake, Elaplze sp.: 1972 The harmless Bahama boa ... sometimes reaches six or seven feet in length (Durrell 71).

[cf. OED cony rabbit, akin to Sp. conejo, now largely obs.; note 1555 quot.: "Connies whiche they caule Vtias"] n., obs. the hutia (Geocapromys ingrahami), a rodent:1731.) The Bahama coney . . . ears feet and tail resemble those of a Rat; in other parts it is somewhat like a Rabbit (Catesby 11:79). .1978 Catesby described and painted the hutia . . . a species thought to be extinct until the mid-I960's—which he called the Bahama coney (Campbell 100). cf. CONEY, RABBIT

n. 1. [see quot.] the bonefish: 1888 The bonefish, nicknamed the Bahama ham on account of a supposed resemblance in flavour (Powles 279). (Exuma) 2. [from the curing process; cf. HURRICANE HAM dried conch] the conch: 1977 Conchs, sometimes called Bahamian ham (Albury 16). (Andros, Adelaide)

n., Obs. a system of pounds and pence used in the 18th and 19th centuries, worth roughly half the value of sterling: 1788 A Spanish dollar is worth 1055 bits, or 4 sh. 8 d. sterling—or 7 sh. 10½ pence Bahama money (Schoepf 296). 1817 The news that America had declared war against Great Britain alarmed us and in a short time flour rose to 25 dollars per barrel... Bahama currency (Dowson 56). cf. CURRENCY

[not in W3] adj., n., Obs., Bahamian (largely replaced by the latter): 1895 Fish is to the Bahaman what meat is to the Englishman (Edwards 15). 1968 Bahaman species (Böhlke 77).

[see the usage note] n. the Bahama Islands (considered to lie outside the West Indies by most Bahamians): 1976 The way of life in America, the West Indies, and the Bahamas (Eneas 24). 

◊ The most likely source is "Spanish ... baja mar, shallow sea" (Albury 1975:1). Bethel (1978:1) to the contrary, there is no Lucayan source Buhama in Craton 1962:39, who in fact traces the name to that given by the Spanish in Ponce de Leon's 1513 voyage (p. 43). The earliest English uses include Bohomo Islands on a 1661 document (Miller 1945:43). Current Spanish has both las Lucayas and Bahamas (Alvarez Nazario 1977:18). cf. LUCAYA(s)

n., Obs. a bird, possibly the gray and yellow Bahama honeycreeper, Coereba flaveola: 1731 Bahama sparrow. . . about the size of a Canary Bird. The head, neck, and breast are black: all other parts of it of a dirty green colour (Catesby 1:37). cf. BANANA BIRD 1, CHEE-CHEE etc., JINJY , YELLOW-BREAST

n. the wild cinnamon tree, Canella winterana: 1889 (Gardner 365). 1978 Small tree. . . cinnamon-like odour. . . known locally as Bahama white-wood bark (Higgs 18). = WILD CANELLA

/bahéymian ; bahámian (Anglophile); bahíymian (Black)/ n. 1. a native of the Bahamas: 1731 The hungry Bahamians (Catesby II:i).

2. the creolized English of the Bahamas, more often called Bahamian dialect: 1978 Nobuddy in we fambly don't speak no more dan four languages: English, Bahamian, profane an' obscene (Dupuch 31).

3. English in general (term used by Haitians speaking English). (Mayag.)

See BAHAMIAN (pronunciation)

/béyjan teys/ [cf. OEDS II Badian, Bajan Barbadian] n. a style of heavy upholstered furniture: 1966 (Crowley 98).

[W. Car.; OED "primarily used of preparing bread, potatoes, apples, the flesh of animals; thus, in the primary sense, distinguished from roast"; Brit. dial. North baked meat roast meat EDD] v. to bake meat in an oven or BAKER, in contrast to ROASTING (over an open fire): 1977 Baked mutton (Albury 14). My sister like boil chicken in the pot, but I like how mama does bake it (Nassau). (Gen.)

/béyka/ [W Car.; cf. Brit. dial. West baker griddle (Orton L36), US dial. idem cast-iron oven DARE] n. I. the oven in a gas or electric stove, as opposed to the OVEN (Dutch oven) or outside ROCK OVEN: I don't usually bake bread in the oven now since I get baker (Nassau). (Black)

2. the upper part of a double oven, used mainly for baking bread, as opposed to the lower part used for meat. (White)

[cf. Brit. dial. North, Mid, baker's bread bread made by a baker as distinguished from bread made at home EDD] n. a large, flat, crisp brown biscuit: 1940 Take li'l corn beef an' bakers cake an' ting (Dupuch 17); truppence wort' o' candy an' baker cake (ibid 45). (Nassau)

/beyk ting/ [W Car.] n. baked goods, such as bread, pastry, cakes, etc. (Black)

/bakímba/ [from to stand akimbo: "To rest one's hands on the hips, keeping the elbows square, and sticking out from the body; an insolent, bullying attitude" 1811 DVT; the initial voiced bilabial in bakimba may derive from the preceding unvoiced bilabial in the set phrase stand up bakimba] adv. akimbo, with the hand(s) on the hip(s), especially as an insulting posture with the hip extended toward the person one is angry at. cf. KIMBO (Eleu.)

—n. in the phrases standing bakimba, motionless posture as opposed to the winding bakimba, with an especially insulting gyration of the hip towards the object of scorn (often humorous). (Eleu.)

[cf. OED balance of partners in dancing: to move to and fro in converse direc-tions like the arms of a balance 1775] v. phr. of partners dancing the quadrille: to perform variations, such as going into opposite corners of the square. (Eleu. Inagua).

/baláw/ [cf. Puerto Rican Sp. balaju ballyhoo fish, of same genus WFF] n. a beaked fish, Hemiramphus balao. (Exuma, Inagua)

n. a fish, Paraclinus infrons: 1968 (Böhlke 520). (Exuma)

n. 1. [Gul. idem (Parsons 1923:94); OED, balls fired from small arms are also called bullets] bullet. (San Sal.)

2. [cf. Scots ball a spree CSD and US colloq. have a ball, i.e. have fun] a spree: going on a ball. cf. BALLER, BALLING (Inagua)

3. technical: a roll of 30 feet of plaited STRAW¹ 1974 Plaits were made . . and shipped in balls (5 fathoms or 30 feet of plait) (Munroe 10). (Ragged)

—v. [cf. US Black ball to have social or sexual fun or both (Major); cf. OED obs. balling frequenting of balls; 1646 "She is to be admonished for night walking, balling, etc." → 1676] to have fun; to go from bar to bar drinking: 1971 The best thing to do after a night of balling is to greet the morning with a cold beer (McCartney 125). After the party done finish we still gon be balling (Nassau). (Black)

[cf. BALL 2 and OED obs., baller one who takes part in a ball; note also "Balum Rancum. A hop or dance, where the women are all prostitutes. N.B. The company dance in their birthday suits" 1811 DVT and US (vulgar) ball to have sexual intercourse (Claire 41)] n. a fun-loving girl; a party girl. (Black)

/bóhl ed/ [Atlantic; from bald (with simplification of final consonant cluster, possibly with converging influence from ball sphere) + head] adj. 1. bald: Our preacher, he dead ball-head, na! (Nassau). cf. SHINE-HEAD, BALL-PLATED, MANGY-HEAD (Black)

2. [cf. Jam. Rastafarian "bald head: person not dealing with Rasta; non-believer of the dread culture; person who has not got his hair in locks" (Pollard 1980:17)] non-Rastafarian (youth slang). (Nassau)

[from its ability to distend its body when alarmed] n. the swellfish, Diodon holocanthus. (Andros)

[etym?] n. a plant, Cardiospermum halicacabum: 1910 (Northrop 166). (Eleu.)

[cf. OED, DJE bald-pate, a different sp.] n. the American widgeon, Mareca americana, a black bird with a white head. (Nassau)

[W Car.; from bald-pated by folk etym.] adj. bald: 1918 Jack saw his head was bal'-plated and he say, "0 Mr. King! I could make your hair grow!" (Parsons 150). = BALL-HEAD (Black)

[from balled wadded together] adj. of skirts or trousers that are too large: bulkily tucked in around the waist: He haddy ball up he pants so they wouldna fall off him (Nassau). (Black)

/balihúw, baliyúw/ [W Car.; from Puerto Rican Sp. balajit idem WFF] n. a beaked fish, Hemiramphus brasiliensis: 1968 (BollIke 124). (Gen.)

[OED idem arch.] v. to embalm (a corpse): 1980 (Dorsett 13). (Nassau)

[cf. Kongo bama to scold + kanza to bite (Turner 1949:58, 105)] n., Obs? the name of a folk tale character: 1918 The tale had been told him by a Congo in Andros half a century ago . . [about] B'o' Bamakansa (Parsons 121).

(Andros, Long); bamboo mast, bamboo raft (Andros); bamboo pole (Inagua); bamboo sisal (San Sal., Mayag.); bamboo tree (Adelaide) [from the resemblance of its tall flowering spike to bamboo] n. a cactus, Agave rigida: 1905 bamboo tree (Shattuck 228a). Rub the bamboo leaves on your clothes till you get sud (Nassau). = BAHAMA BAMBOO, MAYPOLE 1, VANILLA

[cf. SHAKER musical rattle] n. a kind of rattle: 1975 A piece of bamboo tree trunk with a natural stopper and a cork stopper at either end. . . filled with rice, peas, or beans (Russell 17). (Black)

/bamsúki/ [etym?; cf. Jam. bam sukey sound suggesting a sudden action DJE] n. a word or action which effectively ends an encounter: 1940 Put d' bamsookie on yuh (Dupuch 1), Da's fixin' um. Da 's givin' um d' ol' bamsookie (ibid 17). (Exuma)

[W Car, different sp.] n. 1. a bird, the banana quit or honeyereeper (Coereba flaveola): 1880 Banana bird. . . Bahama Honey Creeper (Cory 76). 1972 Banana bird. . . Coereba flaveola (Paterson 156). = BANANA SPARROW, CHEE-CHEE etc., JINJY, YELLOW BREAST (Gen.)

2. a bird, the black-cowled oriole (Icterus dominicensis) on Abaco only: 1972 (Paterson 160). COCONUT BIRD, PAROQUET 2

(Gen.), banana bottom (Mayag.) [from agricultural use; see quot.] n. a deep, natural hole found in limestone: 1889 [a plant] abundant near Banana holes (Gardner 352). 1905 Well-like openings known as banana holes. . . Their bottoms are usually lined with soil or mud, but at other times contain brackish or salt water which ebbs and flows with the tide . . The smaller ones having a depth of 5 or 10 feet usually contain rich soil and are used to grow bananas; hence the name (Shattuck 13, 14).

[W. Car.; often found among bananas DJE] n. a large spider, Heteropoda venatoria, resembling the tarantula, usually called GROUND SPIDER. (Exuma)

in the phrase: People don't kill banana tree; banana tree kill theyself: People create their own problems. (Black)

[W Car.] n. the water in which bananas have been boiled, drunk as a beverage. (Black)

/béyngalohng/ [cf. W Car. bangarang noise, disturbance DJE; cf. Wolof baŋka, Hausa baŋke to collide (Turner 1949:60) perhaps converging with Eng. echoic forms bang, ting-a-ling] intj. the noise of something falling down or colliding with another object. (Gen.)

[from a reduplication of bang, perhaps converging with similar African echoic words for striking, e.g. Twi bàm or Hausa bam DJE] intj. the sound of a bell toiling: ding-dong! (Mayag., Inagua)

—n. 1. [cf. preceding; alluding to the death knell] an inherited wardrobe: bang-bang clothes. cf. LEAVE-OVER 2 (Inagua)

2. penis (child's word). (Andros)

[cf. BANISTER RAILING] n. a porch with a railing: 1966 I jump right here on this bannister porch (Crowley 113). (Black)

[cf. OED banister railing on stairs but cf. 1776 quot. "A neat altar-piece, inclosed with rails and banisters") n. the railing on a porch or boat: 1969 Grab d' bannister an' jump on d' back porch (Dupuch 11). (Black)

/bánja/ [in US /bánjow/ but cf. South, Black /bánja/ (Stanley 1941:10); from "kiMbundu mbanza stringed musical instrument (whence also Jam, banja and Brazilian Port, banza) converging with bandore, a European stringed instrument" (Dalby 1972:177); cf. also Haitian bandjo idem TDKF; cf. DJE bangil 1739, OED banshaw 1764, DAE banger 17751 n. the banjo: 1788 Another musical instrument of the true negro is the Banjah. Over a hollow calabash . . . is stretched a sheep-skin. It is lengthened with a neck and strung with four strings. (Schoepf 261). 1918 It is a banjer knocking (Parsons 121). 1966 B' Rabby make he little banja . . he start he sing (Crowley 63). (Black)

 v. phr. to save (money): He banking up he money to go off to school (Nassau). (Gen.)

(Andros); boungy-sticker or panny-sinky. (Nassau) [origin uncertain, but cf. Sar. asiíka, small crab, and folk etymology; cf. also Pap. panekrab crab (Hoyer 27) and Am. Sp. pancora small crab species WFF] n. the blue swimming crab, Callinectes sapidus: We does take the body of the pan-sicker and put it on the hook (Nassau). cf. JOE (SANKEY), SANKY

◊ Considerable variation among the Family Islanders is attested in the following list of alternate forms: banny-suckle (Long); boney-sicker (Exuma); boney-sticker (Mayag.); bunny-sickle (Crooked); pammy-sicker (Andros, White); pammy-sickle (Andros); pammy-sucker (Cat); panny-sticker (Exuma); panny-sickle (Exuma); pan-sicker (Eleu., Nassau); pony-sinker (San Sal)

[cf. bandy and US dial. banty bow-legged ADD] adj. bandy-legged: His legs bantin (San Sal.).

 —n. the hip: Stop clappin' ya bantin at me (Cat). 

(Andros); ban-leg (Eleu.) [cf. BANTIN] adj. bandy-legged.

[W Car.; echoic] intj. imitating the sound of a sharp blow: 1940 He bump he head on d' wall "Bap!" (Dupuch 92).

[alluding to a sand bar (now removed) in Nassau harbor] v. phr. to come from abroad: 1940 Dey trus' enybuddy who come over d' Bar (Dupuch 3).

[cf. Scots dial. barefoot broth broth made with butter and vegetables, without any meat EDD, and US dial. barefoot tea without cream or sugar ADD] n. plain boiled rice (without onions, tomato sauce, etc.). (Gen.)

[from markings?] n. a fish, Caranx ruber: 1968 (Böhlke 330). (Black)

n. [OED, the rind, husk, or shell of fruit and grains obs. → 1661] the husk of a coconut: 1978 Remove inner bark from any number of coconuts (Higgs 60). (Black)

—v. [OED, to strip off the bark from (a tree) . . to scrape or rub off the skin; cf. also Brit. dial. North bark to knock or rub off the skin, sep. from the shins EDD] 1. to remove the husk of a coconut or the shell of a nut: 1940 barking coconut on d' floor (Dupuch 20). 1977 These coconuts were barked or had all husks removed (Albury 25). (Black)

2. or bark up, to scrape the skin (off knees, shins): 1940 He get he knee all bark up runnin' tru prickly pear patch (Dupuch 64). bark his behind, bark him up [cf. BARK v] phr. to give someone a beating: Papa send message say don't care the time, he gon bark your behind when you come home (Nassau). (Black)

n. phr. the lower trunk, especially of a large tree with big roots. (Exuma)

n. pl. 1. pieces of bark. (Andros, Eleu.)

2. husks of coconuts: Carvings made from coconut barks. (Nassau)

n. 1. [cf. US dial. South barn small shed with a feedroom and a single stall (Brown 1976)] a small back shed, used for storage, etc. (Black)

2. the part of an outbuilding, such as a cook house, used for storage. (Andros)

/bárakow/ [from the port of Baracoa, Cuba opposite Inagua?] n. a variety of pineapple having very large eyes. (Eleu.)

/barakúwta/; barracouti /barakúwti/ [W. Car.; from standard Sp. barracuda (but note Honduran Sp. baracuta WFF); cf. OED barracoota 1772] n. the barracuda, a large fish (Sphyrdena barracuda): 1895 Baracouti (Edwards 68). 1909 Barracouta (Cowles 26) = BARRY, COODA, HANGY (Black)

[from barren, by hypercorrection of final consonant cluster (cf, wan' want)] adj. (of women) infertile: I hear say she barrent—das why she ain't got no chirren (Nassau). (Black)

/baráwt/ [Atlantic; cf. Scots bethout without CSD with rhotacism of /t, d/] prep. without: 1970 Dey. . . gone de whole nite barrout one wink (Wallace 11). (Eleu., San Sal.)

/bári/ [cf. BARRACUTA] n. the barracuda fish, Sphyraena barracuda. = BARRACUTA, COODA, HANGY (Black)

See BASSLY.

[from the n.] v. to tend bar: He was bar-tendering. (Nassau)

[US: a particular variety of pear named after Enoch Bartlett, its distributor] n. any variety of northern pear (Pyrus communis). = AMERICAN PEAR, FALSE PEAR cf. PEAR avocado (Black)

[cf. Kongo basa bedstead covered with a mat (Turner 1949:60) converging with basket, BEDHEAD] n. the head of a bedstead: 1904 Make the sign of the cross on the basket-head of your bed (on the bolster) and the hag will let you alone (Clavel 36). 1917 He mumbled something about a "basket" or a "batstead". . [or] "bashted" (he evidently did not know the real word at all!) . . . a carved bedstead (Defries 95, 97).

[cf. Jam, basket hook a vine DJE and Bah. HOOK hoop] n. a plant, Croton lucidus: 1889 (Gardner 405).

[cf. US basket willow (Salix viminalis) DAE] n. a tree (sp?) whose twigs are used in weaving fish traps. (Nassau)

bass drum (Gen.); bass guitar (San Sal.) /beys/ [from resemblance of sound to that of bass fiddle] n. a musical instrument, an over-turned washtub with a stick and a string tightened to vary pitch: 1975 Base: merely a tub with a piece of oscilating wood and string (Russell 10, 11). = WASHTUB BASS, TINTUB BASS

/beys/ [Gul. idem (Writers' Program 1940: 42); cf. OED bass nonce word ... to utter or proclaim with a bass voice or sound 1610; probably a back-formation from BASSER] v. to sing bass: He bassin' (Andros, Inagua)

/béysa/ [cf. Scots baser a bass singer CSD and US Black baser responding line sung by a gospel group (Major)] n. a bass singer, especially one accompanying the story-singer in a spiritual: 1978 (Bethel 96). (Black)

/básli/ (Andros); barsly /bahsli/ (Mayag., Inagua); brassly /brásli (Andros), brázli (Mayag.)/ [cf. Jam. báazli (Ocimum micranthum); from basil influenced by PUSSLY ; cf. THISTLE]  n. a fragrant herb (sp?).

OED applied to things resembling, but not identical with, the species that legitimately bears the name] attributive n. a tree (usually male) that does not bear fruit. = MAN, BOAR (Black)

n. a tree, Laguncularia racemosa: 1910 (Northrop 171). (Black)

n. a tree, Savia bahamensis: 1905 (Shattuck 257). = JOE-WOOD (Black)

[DJE, W3 different sp.] n. a tree, Badiera domingensis: 1889 (Gardner 365). (Exuma, Inagua)

n. a tree, Coccoloba swartzii, with small black fruit resembling pigeon plums: 1977 (Patterson 43). (Black)

/bástad séya pahm/ n. a tree, Cycas revoluta: 1889 Bastard sago palm ... common in gardens . . . Pith furnishes a kind of sago (Gardner 353). (Eleu., Inagua)

[cf. STOPPER] n. a tree, Petitia domingensis: 1920 (Britton 373). = FOWL BERRY, PEPPER BERRY (Black)

[cf. TORCH WOOD] n. a shrub, Ocotea coriacea: 1920 (Britton 143). = BLACK TORCH, SWEET TORCHWOOD (Exuma)

/beys/ [cf. 1811 DVT to beat] v. to beat (a person): 1918 He startin' lickin' his broder ... bastin' his broder (Parsons 32). (Eleu.)

[W Car.; cf. Irel. bat moth EDD] n. a large, dark moth of the family Noctuidae: When one of them bat come in the house, my cat does catch them, eat them up (Nassau). (Gen.)

/bateyta/ [cf. Sp., Port. batata sweet potato (from Taino)] n. potato. (Gen.)

/bátow/ [Car.; from Fr. bateau boat] n. 1. a kind of flat-bottomed boat. (Gen.)

 2. any small boat, up to about 8 feet. (San Sal.)

/beyd yu skin/ [Car.; cf. SKIN as quasi reflexive] v. phr. to take a bath or shower: 1918 My ol' fader . . carry him upstairs ... an' bathed his skin (Parsons 37). (Gen.)

/baht suwt/ [also Vir. (Roy 1974) and Belize idem (Dayley 1979] n. a bathing suit. (Nassau)

n. [cf. BATTER (UP)] a board used to batten up windows before a hurricane: the batters or shutters. (Nassau, San Sal.)

-- v. especially in the phrase: batter up [from batten by denasalization of final vowel] to batten down: Windows should be battered up (Nassau). Ensure that your house is battered (ibid). (Gen.)

/báti/ [Atlantic; from bottom buttocks] n. the buttocks. (Eleu., Inagua)

[Belize idem (Dayley 1979); from BATTY + hole] n. anus. (Nassau)

[Car.; from bay coastal recess, by semantic broadening possibly influenced by Port. beira shore] n. 1. beach: 1708 Amber-Greece is often washed up on the bays (Graves, quoted by Durrell 1972:22), 1918 Gone to de water side .. . to de bay (Parsons 61). (Black)

2. the sea: 1918 [Elephant to Whale re their tug-of-war] "I stay on de lan' an' I could do fine; you stay on de bay an' you could do fine dere" (Parsons 75). (Black)

/bey aréynja/ [from BAY GERINA by metathesis?] n. a vine (sp?) with small leaves. cf. BAY GERANIUM (Eleu.)

bay bean n. a plant, Canavalia bahamensis, which grows on the seashore and bears reddish-brown beans: 1885 The bay bean . . . is, it is said, the fruit of a plant that grows at the bottom of the sea (sic) . . It is about the size of an average great-coat button, of a brown colour, with a curious ring around it (Brassey 336). = SEASIDE BEAN (Gen.)

bay crab n. a small white sand crab, Sesarnia ricordi? (Black)

 bay gerina /bey jaríyna/ (Black); bay gerinia (Exuma) n. a seashore vine, Ambrosia hispida: 1920 (Britton 432). = BAY TANSY, SOAP BUSH, WILD GERANIUM

[from resemblance to hops; by folk etym. from hop v. since children use the vine as a skipping rope] n. a seashore vine, Ipomea pes-caprae: 1905 Medicinal plants . . . used by the negroes . . Bay hop (Shattuck 207). 1978 Bay hop .. . trailers are dotted with attractive flowers. Used for the relief of women's "strain and tiredness" (Higgs 13). = BAY VINE, BAY WINDERS, BEACH MORNING GLORY, SEASIDE MORNING GLORY (Black)

n. a seashore plant, Borrichia arborescens, with yellow flowers: 1920 (Britton 450). = SEA BUSH (San Sal.)

n. a seashore shrub bearing black fruit, probably the COCO PLUM, Chrysobalanus icaco (San Sal.). (Black)

◊ Gardner (1889:389) identifies bay plum as the guava, but this is probably an error.

n. a seashore plant, Zamia angustifolia or Z. pumila: 1889 Bay rush . . . pith furnishes starch fit for food and for laundry purposes, sold in Nassau by Negroes from Andros (Gardner 352). What I bin pass through kill yinna dead. Gatty take the bay-rush, grind um for food (Andros). cf. COONTIE SAGO (Gen.)

[Vir. idem (Roy 1974); US shore of a bay DAE] n. seashore; beach: 1966 Moray come up on the bay-side and eat (Crowley 106). (Black)

[from the name of Nassau's main commercial street] n. politically powerful white merchants of Nassau: 1962 (Craton 286). Every time mama talk bout politics, dem Bay Street Boys is always come up (Nassau). (Gen.)

[cf. STRING] n. a strip of bay grass (Eragrostis sp.) used to tie together conch, fish, etc. for sale. (Gen.)

(Black); bay tanjy (Exuma) [cf. US tansy different sp. W3] n. a seashore vine, Ambrosia hispida: 1920 (Britton 432). = BAY GERANIUM, SOAP BUSH, WILD GERANIUM

n. a seashore vine (sp?) with leaves resembling thyme. cf. BAY ARRANGIA (Andros, White)

[from habitat and form, but cf. /vayn/ to wind] n. a seashore vine, probably Ipomea pes-caprae. cf. BAY WINDERS, BAY HOP, BEACH MORNING GLORY, SEASIDE MORNING GLORY (Gen.)

[cf. BAY VINE] n. a seashore vine, Ipomea pes-caprae, with purple flowers resem-bling morning glories. = BAY HOP, BEACH MORNING GLORY cf. BAY VINE (Exuma, Inagua)

n. a seashore shrub, Croton linearis: 1920 (Britton 223). = GRANNY BUSH (Inagua)

[Car., US Black; from use after iterative marker DOES, later lost (Rickford 1974:96ff.)]

v. 1. to be (habitually): 1929 I goes down dere, no matter how tired I be (Defries 83). Hotels, restaurants, or any place where tourists mostly be (Nassau). Sometimes he bes here (Eleu.). They is be in the ocean (Mayag.). He doesn't be out in the day (White). (Gen.)

 2. there exist: 1977 Only be three live here (Shilling 144). cf. IS2 3

[cf. Gul. Bro' Rabbit be look fo' see ef Bro' Wolf been a-comin' (Parsons 1923:40); from BE¹ 1] preverbal habitual marker 1. before simple verbs: 1977 People be row right up (Shilling 144).

2. before adjectival verbs: 1977 Sometime you be lucky (Shilling 144). It does be white (ibid).

3. before verb + -in': 1917 The boss be sleeping, sure (Cleare 229). 1977 This one gang of fellows up on the roof this morning, they just be playing (Shilling 144). They does be boiling until they come (ibid).

[from habitat] n. a seashore bird of prey, Tyrannus intrepidus? (Black)

v. phr. to go to the beach, especially to go swimming: The sea is so close to the settlement that I could have gone beaching any time. (Nassau, San Sal.)

[cf. OED beach v.t. to run or haul (a vessel) up on the beach] v.i. of boats, fish, etc.: to be driven up on the beach: Whales used to beach up on Cat Island. (Cat)

[OED seems to misinterpret following quot.] n., Obs? a strip of palmetto leaf: 1885 The sponges are strung upon small palmetto strips, three or four to a strip, which is called a "bead" (Brassey 339).

[from the use of the seeds as beads] n. a plant, Abrus precatorius, with poisonous oval green seeds which become red with a black spot when mature: 1905 (Shattuck 255). = BLACK-EYED SUSAN TREE, MACKABEE, RED-EYE SUZY, (WILD) LICORICE (Inagua, San Sal.)

n. nickname for a native of Cherokee Sound, Abaco. (White)

[Atlantic; from Eng. pl.] n. sing. or pl. bean; emphatic singular: one grain of beans. (Exuma)

[OED, barb of a fish-hook obs. → 1793] n. the prong of a fishing spear: Sometimes you strike a good fish, the beard does pull off (Andros). (Andros, Adelaide)

/bíysaz/ [cf. Gul. beasties (Parsons 1923: 80), US Black beas's (Benardete 1932:362); from simplification of final consonant cluster to beas', then addition of post-sibilant plural allomorph] n. pl. beasts: 1918 beas'es (Parsons 125). (Gen.)

[Car. also US Black (Loman 1967:6)] v. 1. to win (with competition rather than competitor as direct object): 1895 De one dat beat de race to have his daughter (Edwards 69). (Gen.) 2. to win (absolute): 1918 See which one will beat [in a race] (Parsons 103). (Gen.)

v. to strike, in the following phrases:

beat around the bush [cf. US idiom and BUSH forest] phr. to live a hand-to-mouth existence with no fixed address. (Nassau)

beat books [cf. OED beat to labour at obs. 1659] phr. to study hard: He beat books too much—he don't play (Nassau).

beat bush [cf. BUSH 4] phr. to crush or pound medicinal plants for use in BUSH MEDICINE: I know one bush Mama use to beat if we ha pain in we belly. (Cat)

beat out phr. to launder clothes by pounding them on rocks in a pond: They gone to the pond —had some clothes to beat out. (Acklins)

beat your skin [cf. US idiom tan your hide, same meaning, and SKIN body] phr. to beat someone up: He go beat you skin well and good. (Black)

[OED, an instrument for beating] n. 1. a drumstick: 1975 (Russell 12). (Gen.)

2. a piece of wood used to hit clothes washed in a pond. (Andros)

n. a flying jackfish (Caranx sp.) which beats its tail on the surface of the water. (Gen.)

 [cf. DJE a beauty one, US colloq. the beauty part] adj. beautiful: Das very beauty. (Black)

/biyva/; beeber /bíyba/ [Atlantic; cf. OED a hat made of beaver's fur → 1885; Scots beaver top hat CSD] n. 1. any felt hat with a brim: 1918 [He] put his beaver on the table (Parsons 162). (Black)

2. a top hat, a Stetson, or a derby: 1936 beeber hat: top hat (Dupuch 121). (Eleu., Inagua)

3. a policeman's pith helmet. (White)

/biy bow ben/ (Black); boom ba den (Andros); ee bo ben, ee bee en (Eleu.); by bow ben /bay bow ben/ (Berry) [Car.; cf. US Black Biddy, biddy bend, my story is end and St. Vincent The story end and the pin bend (Dillard 1977:130), also Belize. If di pin neva ben, di stowri neva en (Escure in Holm (ed.) 1982); "from the English nominie Be bow bended, my story's ended" (Parsons 1918:xi)] phr. formula for ending a story: 1918 E bo ben, dis story en' (Parsons xi). 1966 Be bo ben (Crowley 37). 

◊ Sometimes this expression is followed by one of a variety of expressions such as: the old story is end, Rooster and hen, or I'll never tell a lie like that again.

[Car.; OED, anything used to sleep on obs. → 1675; from such use] n. old, ragged clothes. (Gen.)

[cf. B' Devil, folk-tale character] n. the mole cricket, Gryllotalpa hexadactyla. (Crooked, San Sal.)

n. a soft grass, Andropogon glomeratus, dried and used to stuff mattresses: 1910 Passed through a tract covered with what the men called "bed grass", a species of Andropogon (Northrop 17). You must find some grass known locally as bed grass (Nassau). = BUSHY BEARD GRASS (Gen.)

 [Atlantic; cf. OED, the upper end of a bed] n. the headboard of a bedstead: Whenever I go sleep inside a Mama bed, my head is always buck up to the bed head (Nassau). (Black)

n. the headboard of a bed (only). (Exuma)

/bed ston/ [from bedstead + stern rear of ship] n. the foot-board of a bedstead. cf. BESTARD (Gen.)

See BIBBY

n. 1. [cf. 1811 DVT "To be in a woman's beef: to have carnal knowledge of her"] vagina: Look at the girl beef na! Specially how them pants so tight, she look like she ready for anything (Nassau). (Black)

2. [cf. Krio yong bif young woman ripe for love KED, DAS beef attractive girl] a sexually attractive girl: Da's my chick—she good beef (Nassau). cf. SALT BEEF, STICKING BEEF, PORK (Black)

[DJE different sp.; from the reddish color of its wood] n. a shrub: 1910 Beef bush . . . Tecoma bahamensis (Northrop 182). 1920 Beef bush . . . Tabebuia bahamensis (Britton 396). cf. CHICKEN TOE, FOWL FOOT, FIVE-FINGER (Black)

[in reference to its meat] n. the loggerhead turtle. cf. MUTTON-OF-THE-SEA, VEAL-OF-THE-SEA (Adelaide)

[OED, DJE different sp., from the reddish color] n. a tree, variously identified: 1889 Casuarina equisetifolia ... beefwood (Gardner 404). 1977 Guapira obtusa (Patterson 87). cf. BLOOD BERRY, SPANISH CEDAR (Gen.)

/biyg/ [cf. Jam. "/ii/ can replace /i/: /iin/ in, /hiiich/ itch" DJE:xlv; perhaps a survival of 17th century Eng. or due to African influence] adj. big: 1918 One beeg fire (Parsons 9). cf. FEEG (Black)

/bin/ [Atlantic; form derived from Brit. dial. South been and marking past EDD, but its semantic and syntactic source probably African preverbal anterior markers, e.g. Yoruba ti, Efik ma, etc.] preverbal marker 1. anterior time: 1895 You' siste' bin married a year ago (Edwards 94). 1918 Never been seen de sun (Parsons 34). 1966 I been want somebody to eat B' Booky long time (Crowley 56). 1977 I bin like school, and I like church till now (Shilling 71). cf. MEI (Black)

2. hypothetical actions contrary to fact: 1966 If I been listening to my brother Rabby, I been going home a long time (Crowley 51). 1977 He woulda bin vex with me for life if I bin ever catch him (Shilling 72). When them stinging ants bite you, you wish you bin dead (Nassau). (Black)

[Car.; from BEEN 1 + A¹]  preverbal marker of anterior progressive, Obs? 1918 You see what I bin a-do? (Parsons 19)

[Gul. idem (Parsons 1923:96); cf. BEEN] preverbal marker of anterior time: 1966 He been an eat the three pumpkins (Crowley 61).

[cf. US Black gone crazy (Major); OED gone of persons ... undone] adj. phr. insane: He been gone a long time. (Black)

[Car.; cf. OED before-times adv..- 1647] n. an earlier period: Before-time was better than now (Nassau). (Black)

—adj. pertaining to an earlier period: Children of today ain' like before-days children (Andros). I could tell you a before-time story bout B' Robby (Crooked). (Black)

—adv. 1. formerly: 1977 Beforetime didn't had no creatures around here (Shilling 117). (Black) 2. before one's time: He dead beforetime (Nassau). (Black)

/beg, beyg/ [W Car.; cf. OED to beg bread] v.t. to ask (a person for a thing): 1918 His wife . . . come and beg the cow (Parsons 123). (Andros)

[OED, combination found in King Lear 1605] n. at a Baptist church CONCERT, a man appointed to cajole and collect individual donations from the congregation, publicly announcing the amount given. (Mayag., Inagua)

prep. 1. [also Jam. (U. May p.c.)] after, such as another word in a sentence: I don't understand the word come behind "seem" (Nassau). (Black)

2. later (in a sequence); younger: She behind me. cf. UNDER, FOLLOW (Andros)

behind God('s) back [cf. Brit. colloq. in the back of beyond idem] phr. (of a place) remote, God-forsaken: Chile, why you want go live all the i,vay behind God back, eh? (Nassau).

behind the door [cf. US colloq. just around the corner idem] phr, (in time) soon approaching: 1942 Christmas is just behind the door (Tribune). (Exuma)

/biyn as/ [Brit., US dial. idern EDD, ADD] conj. phr. because: I don't go there, being as it too expensive (Nassau). (Gen.)

/bélbow/ [etym. unknown, but cf. Scots baubee halfpenny CSD] n. the old brass three-pence coin, especially when found and not taken, lest it be a harmful obeah charm: 1979 (LaRoda 71). (Exuma)

/bélabi/ [cf. 1811 DVT Barnaby an old dance to a quick movement, possibly converging with African words, e.g. Kongo (e)bwela type of dance, mbele a game (H. Carter p.c.)] n. a children's dance game, sung to the tune of "Shortnin' Bread": 1978 (Bethel 162). (Exuma, San Sal.

[Pan-Creole; cf. Krio gεt bεlε', Peti-nègue gãyé labõt, Guine Port. Cr. teŋ bariigə, all lit. have belly, i.e. be pregnant (Hancock 1971:658); a calque on an African idiom, e.g. Temne bá k-ór (ibid) or Bantu (Carter p.c.)] n. 1. pregnancy: Dat girl get belly again. Boy, she mussy can't stop getting children! (Nassau). cf. BIG BELLY (Gen.)

2. the belly [cf. Delhi belly idem BDNE II diarrhea. cf. BELLY WORK (Gen.)

[from its use as a remedy] n. a plant, Aloe vera: 1978 Aloe vera . . . brought to south Florida by early settlers from the Bahamas . . . was given the name of "Belly Ache" plant (Higgs 3). = ALOES, HEALING PLANT, PAIN-A-BELLY BUSH

[Car.] n, a swelling of the belly from malnutrition: Them children over there with they belly swell look like all they got in it is air (Nassau). = BIG-GUT, GAS-GUT, SWELL-BELLY (Black)

[Car.; cf. BELLY 1] n. a pregnant woman. (Mayag.)

[Atlantic; cf. Sra. wrokobere WST, Krio wok bεlε KED; by analogy with Brit. dial. North headwark 'headache' (Orton L46)] phr., Rare, have diarrhea: My belly workin' me (San Sat). (Black)

(White); blonks (Black) v. 1. [cf. Krio blant idem KED, Gul. blonx belong (Gonzales 1922: 290); from Brit. dial. North, West belong with omission of prep. to: to appertain to ... hence to dwell EDD] to come from (a place): He blonks New York. You don't blonks here (Eleu.). People who belong to Spanish Wells (White). (Gen.)

2. to be the child of: The one who blonks to de Conky Joe man. (Rum Cay)

See RICE BELOW.

[perhaps from bent-joint (Cassidy p.c.); cf. DJE jointer bush . . . black giant... /jaint/ joint] n. a kind of wild fruit (sp?): 1977 (Albury 25).

[Atlantic; from Wolof bεnε., Bambara bene sesame (Turner 1949:191)] n. the sesame seed: 1835 Sesamum indicum ... Benny (Journal 28). 1918 Benny, a grain much finer than corn (Parsons 50). You run your mouth like parch benny, [you talk a lot] (Nassau). (Gen.)

n. sesame seed candy: 1934 Benny cake: made from seeds and boiled sugar cane, is allowed to harden and is like a candied cereal (Bell 83). (Gen.)
16

[cf. Plimsoll line load-line markings on a cargo ship W3] n. (in playing marbles) the line behind which one must stand when throwing marbles into the ring. = GUTS (San Sal.)

[cf. W Car. de pan idem] v. phr, to be engaged in an activity: 1966 The man been one day on that [trying to catch the sun] (Crowley 64). (Andros, Mayag.)

See B'.

/bamúwda/ [named after the Sp. explorer Bermudez /bermtiwdhes/ but Bermudians call themselves 'Mudians /myúwjanz/ (Ayres 1933 :3)] n. Bermuda: ca. 1707 Bermoodas Islands (quoted by Craton 1962:96). 1940 Bermooda (Dupuch 102). (Andros, Eleu.)

[Car.] phr. to become insubordinate; to forget one's place: Child: "You can't tell me what to do!" Adult: "You want get beside yourself with me?" (Nassau).

See BESTARD.

[cf. colloq. had best OED, W3; dial, best idem ADD] modal v. had better: 1888 Else you'se best stop (Powles 285). (Gen.)

—adj., adv. [Brit., US colloq. idem; cf. best foot forward] the better (of two): 1895 W'ich one you love bes' out o' de two? (Edwards 93). (Black)

/béstad/, beskard [cf. BEDSTEAD head-board] n. the headboard of a bed: When I jump in the bed, I knock my head on the beskard (Nassau). (Andros, Nassau)

[cf. BESTARD] n. the footboard of a bed. (Exuma)

[Car.; cf. Sra. besbesi idem WST; cf. Port. Cr. miʎɔr-miʎɔr idem from Port. melhor best (Ivens Ferraz 1979:58) from best by reduplication] adj. very best: I planning on wearing my best-best dress to church next week (Nassau). (Black)

/bésis/ [Car.; Brit., US dial. idem EDD, ADD] adj. very best: My boyfriend got the bestest car (Nassau). cf. MOSTEST, WORSTEST (Exuma, Nassau)

[W Car.; from I bet you] phr. a threat or warning: 1918 I betcher I bite you (Parsons 14). (Gen.)

[W Car.; OED, in the space which separates two points (vs. among, separating three or more)] prep. among: between people [in public] (Eleu.). Between all of us (Long). (Black)

[from brother; cf. 81 n., Obs? brother, a term of address to a male peer: 1895 I would n' matte' gittin' somet 'in' to eat, Beyeh (Edwards 89).

/bíbi/, beeby /bíybi/ [US Black idem (A. Patur p.c.); cf. BOOBOO 4] n. 1. mucus in the corner of the eye: 1918 The cat came in with his eyes full of biby (Parsons 23). Take that bibby out your eye (Nassau). (Gen.)

2. nasal mucus. (Abaco)

[from swearing by the Bible; cf. DAS bible the truth; cf. Kriogospel the only truth KED, US colloq. the gospel truth idem] n. the absolute truth: This facts now. . . this Bible (Eleu.). (Black)

[Gul. idem ADD; cf. Gul. bidibidi a small bird; a small chicken, Kongo bidibidi a bird (Turner 1949:191)] n. 1. a chick: 1977 Each family kept a rooster which was in charge of hens and biddies (Albury 18). (Gen.)

2. [by semantic extension] child: 'E could get money to go take vacation and leave two biddies and an old soul like me (Andros).

[Pan-Creole; cf. LA Fr. gros (lit. big) idem (Taylor 1951b:43); cf. Scots big pregnant CSD; US dial. South big to get with child ADD] adj. pregnant: 1974 Bernice daughter big and she even een seventeen yet (King 8). (Black)

—v. [cf. Haitian gwos (lit. big) idem HCEFD] to make pregnant: Kiah big 'er . . . she big fer Kiah (Dupuch p.c.) He done big her, now he comin' roun' me (Nassau). (Black)

[W Car.] n. a species of large, winged ant: Them big ants does bite hard, hear? (Nassau). (Gen)

[Car.; cf DHS big-bellied far gone in pregnancy 1711; cf. also BIG, BELLY] n. pregnancy. (Black)

—adj. pregnant: That big-belly woman soon ready to have baby (Nassau).

[Pan-Creole; cf. Haitian gra-gra (Sylvain 1936:46 and Port. Cr. of Senegal grãdi-grãdi (Ivens Ferraz 1979:58) and reduplicated African forms, e.g. Kongo múpátipáti (Carter & Makoondekwa ms.), Yoruba n'lán'lá (Rowlands 1969:207), all lit. big-big, i.e. very big] adj. very large: Now da's what you call a big-big man—don't even look like he coulda get in dat car (Nassau). (Black)

[DJE idem] n. an old English penny: 1888 (Powles 158). cf. SMALL COPPER (Gen.)

[from big referring to high growth + coppice grove, copse W3] n., Obs? land supporting taller trees, vs. scrubland: 1905 The coppice is large and thick, and the land is often called "big coppice land" to distinguish it from types supporting less vigorous growths (Shattuck 159). = HIGH COPPICE.

[Pan-Creole; cf. Haitian gwo je (lit. big eye) greedy HCEFD; US Black (Smiley 1919:358); calque e.g. Igbo aŋa uku (Turner 1949:233), Twi ani bre (Aboagye p.c.), both lit. big-eye, i.e. greed] n. greed: 1895 B' Spider 'e did have such a big eye, 'e did vwant all de bananas (Edwards 66). (Gen.)

—adj. greedy; wanting the biggest and best for oneself: 1918 B'o' Boukee was beeg eye (Parsons 9). You better gimme a straight half 'cause you know you big-eye! (Nassau). cf. BEEG (Gen.)

[from its prominent eyes] n. the squirrelfish, Holocentrus sp. = POP-EYE JOHN, JACK BRUSH (Gen.)

n. a fish, a kind of porgie (sp?): 1936 A big-eye porgie on won side uv 'im an' wun lobster on d' udder side (Dupuch 40). = BURRY-EYE (Gen)

[from appearance of staring upwards] n. a fish, Dactyloscopus crossotus: 1968 (Böhlke 496). (Black)

[Atlantic; "by analogy with big toe or contrast with little finger" DJE] n. the thumb: I cut my big finger last night where I was cutting the chicken for Mama (Nassau). = BIG T(H)UMB (Gen.)

[cf. Sra. bigi-foetoe elephantiasis WST, and possible influence from an earlier form parallel to Jam. bufutu big, clumsy DJE or Kilo gbɔfɔtɔ idem, from Temne buf thɛ KED] adj. (of people) fat, clumsy: 1936 Dis big-foot feller got nerve t'ax me fer job (Dupuch 23). (Black)

n. a variety of bitter cassava used to make cassava bread after grating and wringing out the poisonous juice. (Andros, Eleu.)

[cf. BIG GEORGE] n. a variety of sweet potato. (Mayag.)

/bígati/ [Gul. idem (Rhame 1933:41); cf. Scots biggit wealthy CSD; US dial. South, Mid. biggity "prob. big + -ity quality, state; cf. uppity ... vain, self-important" DARE; "a negro term" DAE] adj. overbearing, pre-sumptuous: 1973 There is a curious streak inherent in the Bahamian's character that hates to see one of his own race succeed, and delights in the downfall of his bold brother—"Serve him right—he too biggety" (Missick 66). 1974 Biggety Jamaicans (King 20). 1978 Biggity, a term used in the Bahamas to mean 'egotistical' or 'bumptious' (Bethel 27). (Gen.)

n. a swelling of the belly from malnutrition. = BELLY-SWELL, GAS GUT, SWELL-BELLY (Black)

[from big, but cf. -RE, -Y suffix and Sra. bigi idem WST] adj., Obs? big: 1895 See dis biggy, biggy han' here? (Edwards 74).

—n. [cf. US slang idem, one that is big W3] a large marble. (Black)

[MCC idem; OED, an indentation in a coastline ... a bay, but cf. DAE quot. "Two small bights of land on each side of the bay"] n. 1. the land around a bay; a peninsula forming a bay. (Eleu., Mayag)

2. a river-like passage of water separating two islands, especially the Northern, Middle, and Southern Bights of Andros: 1910 Shallow channels known as "bights" (Northrop 121).

[cf. BIG GEORGE] n. a variety of bitter white cassava. (Andros, San Sal.)

[Pan-Creole; cf. Haitian gran moun idem TDKF; an African idiom: cf. Bemba abakulu adults (M. Mann p.c.) and Twi mpa hyin sem, lit. big people story, i.e. only for adults (said to eavesdropping children) (K. Aboagye p.c.)] n. adults: 1973 The child is put "out of circulation"—"Go in de room—dis big people conversation" (Missick 90). These children here mussy demons, though the big people just so bad (Andros). (Gen.)

[cf. PUSSLY] n. a succulent plant (sp?) which grows near the sea. (Berry)

[Cf. RING-PLAY] n. singing games performed while standing in a large circle: The Lodge Hall . . was the scene of dances and "big-ring plays" (Wyannie Malone Museum, Hope Town). In the olden days no one knew how to dance. In the early 1900's young people began the big-ring plays. They would stand in a big ring (boy-girl-boy-girl etc.) holding hands and singing songs like "Skip to my Lou" while moving in a circle around the couples in the ring, who would stand with their arms around one another (C. Sawyer, Hope Town). (Gen.)

n. a plant, Lantana involucrata: 1910 (Northrop 180). = WILD (WHITE) SAGE (Black)

[cf. SOUR] n. 1. the Seville or sour orange: I's use the big sour for ma conch salad (Nassau). (Black) 2. the grapefruit. cf. LITTLE SOUR (Cat)

/big tom/ [Car.; cf. BIG FINGER] n. the thumb. (Black)

/big tóma/ [from big + tummy] n. a swelling of the belly due to malnutrition. (Andros, Nassau)

[MCC idem; cf. BIG] v. to swell up; become big. (Mayag., San Sal.)

—adj. pregnant: Zelly and her sister all two on 'em big right up for them two Johnson brothers (Nassau). (Exuma, Nassau)

/bílji / [cf. OED bilge the foulness which collects in the bottom of a ship's ha; bilgy characteristic of a bilge] adj. 1. (of water) dirty; muddy; salty: From Jen wash Friday, that old bilgy water still out there in the tub (Crooked). (Black)

2. (of fruit) astringent. (Crooked)

n. 1. a fish, Belone truncata: 1782 The sea hereabouts (Bahamas etc.) abounds with fish unknown to us in Europe . . . bill-fish, hound-fish, etc. (Bruce 46).

2. a general term for fish with beaks, such as marlin, swordfish, etc. (Nassau)

n. a vine, Cissus intermedia. cf. BULL VINE (Nassau)

a typical Seminole personal name (Neill 1976:112)] n. a Seminole Indian: 1966 (Crowley 18). (Andros)

[probably from Lucayan] n. the Bahamian islands closest to Florida: 1511 map: Isla de beimeni (Curry 1928:20, 28). 1523 Bimene (Turin map, quoted by Craton 1962:45). 1635 Bimini (Atlas Novus). 1889 Bimini . . . the name formerly given by West Indian natives to an island or region north of them, where, according to their legends, there was a fountain whose waters conferred perpetual youth (Century Dictionary).

See BEEN.

[cf. OED bine flexible stem of a climbing plant] n. a plant, (Cassia biflora?) with reddish leaves. = MOSQUITO BUSH. (Andros, San Sal.)

[cf. US bird's eye marked with spots resembling birds' eyes: "bird's eye diaper" W3] n. diapers (made from flour bags). (Black)

(Andros, Grand Bah.); bird prickle (Andros) [US different sp. W3; probably from bur + hypercorrection, but cf. quot.] n. 1.a grass with burs, Cenchrus echinatus.= BUR GRASS, PRICKLE GRASS

2. a soft, fine grass (sp?): Birds like doves live in bird grass (San Sal.).

◊ Bird grass 2 is not equivalent to BUR GRASS or BUD GRASS.

/bod pepa/ [Car.; DJE "favoured by birds" 1696 —)-; OED 1786 →; DAE 1785 --)-; cf. Reunion Cr. Fr. pima zwazo (lit. pepper bird) le plus fort des piments quoique Is plus petit (Chaudenson 1974:85)]

n. a plant, Capsicum minimum, with tiny red peppers used in sauces: 1782 They have . . . bird pepper (Bruce, quoted in Albury 1975:80). 1835 Chili pepper, commonly called Bird Pepper (Journal 9). (Gen.)

See BIRD GRASS.

[cf. US idem, "a geometric pattern ... of a small diamond with a center dot resembling a bird's eye" W3; from appearance of pineapple's eyes] n. a variety of pineapple: 1880 Bird's Eye [pineapple] . . . cultivation has been pretty much abandoned, because of the destruction of the crop by rats and land crabs (Ives 104). (Inagua)

v. [Gul., US dial. South idem ADD] 1. to aid in the birth: I birth that calf (but the cow born it) (Nassau). 2. to nurse, raise: I birthin' the puppies from the mother dead (Nassau).

—n. afterbirth: 1966 (Otterbein 63, 64). take the birth, bury it right there in the yard (Acklins). (Black)

n. birthplace: Your birth-home in Nassau? (Acklins, Crooked)

[cf. BIRTH afterbirth] n. where one's afterbirth is buried, often the mother's yard; 1966 (Otterbein 63, 64). Tha's you birth-place, way that bury (Acklins). (Black)

[ Car.; from physically cutting Spanish dollars into 8 bits or pieces of eight; bit is used with various equivalents, e.g. 8 cents (Guyana), 10 cents (Barbados, Miskito Coast of Nicaragua), 41/2 d. (Jamaica); cf. also US two bits 25 cents] n., Obs. the sterling equivalent of the Mexican real, ranging from fivepence halfpenny (late 18th cent.) to fourpence halfpenny (late 19th cent.): 1786 The Bahama Almanack: Price Two Bitts (Bahama Gazette). 1788 In the Bahama Islands the reckoning is by pieces of eight, which is an imaginary coinage worth eight bits so-called. The bits are in part an old round Spanish coin, in part small irregular pieces of silver worth 10½ such bits, or 4 sh. 8 d. sterling (Schoepf 296). 1888 A bit . . . fourpence halfpenny (Powles 158).

n. item, article: Erry bit o' dem is socks (Nassau). (Black)

n. [Car.; Scots idem CSD] a mild insult for males and objects: 1966 You bitch! [to a dead monster] (Crowley 115). When he think Jack sleep, he say . . . "The little bitch sleep" (ibid 120). (Gen.)

intj. [probably from a phrase such as "Take that, you bitch!"] said when one person hits another, much like Sp. olé or Fr, touché, especially by adolescent boys watching an action film; also said on hitting one's thumb with a hammer. cf. ITCH! and ETCH! (Black)

[cf. BITCH intj.] n. a heavy blow: You suppose to give him one bitch-blow then (Nassau). It take one bitch-blow from dat man dere to broke up dat fight (Nassau).

[Car.; DHS idem; cf. botch] v. phr. 1. to ruin, spoil; to frustrate. 2. [by extension] to make something hastily: Let me go bitch up one dress to wear to work tomorrow (Nassau). (Gen.)

v. 1. [DHS idem] to swindle; to deceive in trading. (White)

2. [Car.; in many Bantu languages, the words for 'bite' and 'sting' are identical, e.g. Kongo -tatika (Carter p.c.)] (of wasps and other stinging insects) to sting. (Gen.)

3. [Car., to hurt (of stomach) DJE; OED obs. → 1637] of the stomach: to growl with hunger: My gut bitin' me (Mayag., Inagua; White)

You get bite phr. an expression of glee at someone else's humiliation: Two boys are standing outside a supermarket. Joe says to Bill, "Da's a rich lady. I gon aks 'er fer quarter an' she gon gimmuh dollar." The lady says she has no money left. Bill says to Joe, "Y' get bite, hey?" (Dupuch p.c.). (Black)

[cf. OED nipper idem; cf. also Haitian dan (cf. Fr. dent tooth) idern HCEFDI n. the pincers of a crab or lobster: You meet the crab in the hole. Some does go down with he biters right to one side like that (Andros). (Gen.)

[W. Car.; cf. ANTS] n. 1. a small black ant (sp?) which bites fiercely: You can't go barefeet there—i's too much biting ants (Nassau). = STINGING ANTS (Gen.)

2. a red ant (sp?). (Eleu.)

/bíta oríynj/ n. the Seville orange, Citrus bigaradia: 1889 Bitter orange. . . used for marmelades, candied orange peel, and bitter tinctures (Gardner 370). = SOUR ORANGE, BIG SOUR (Black)

 [W3, WE different sp.] n. a plant, Picramnia pentandra, used medicinally: 1920 (Britton 210). = SNAKE ROOT, BITTERWOOD (San Sal.)

[OED, bitter medicines generally] n. 1. a particular bush (sp?) whose leaves are boiled by the midwife as a tonic for the mother. (Eleu.)

2. a tree, Lasiocroton macrophyllus: 1910 (Northrop 163). = LIGHTWOOD, WILD OAK

[Car.; cf. BITTERS] n. a medicinal infusion: Mama did used to make me drink bitters tea when I catch a check.(Nassau). (Black)

[OED, W3 different sp.] n. 1. a plant, Duranta repens: 1905 (Shattuck 262). = PIGEON BERRY I (Black)

2. the common lemon. (Long, Andros)

[OED, W3, DIE different sp.] n. 1. a shrub, Picramnia pentandra: 1905 (Shattuck 206) = BITTER ROOT, SNAKE ROOT

2. a tree, Picrodendron baccatum: 1977 (Patter-son 99). = THREE-LEAF (Inagua)

[ Scots idem CSD] v.t. to blacken: Colly blacked the smoothing iron (White). Fire could black the pot (Exuma).

n. a fish, Myripristis jacobus, with a black mark behind its head: 1968 (Böhlke 153). (Black)

[cf. BASTARD BUTTON-WOOD] n. a tree, Laguncularia racemosa. (Andros)

(San Sal., Mayag.); black bug (Andros) n. the palm weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatus, a black stinging insect which bores into the heart of the coconut palm. = COCONUT BUG

[DIE def. 1; OED different sp.] n. 1. a bird, Crotophaga ani, with a parrot-like beak: 1880 Rain crow or Blackbird (Cory 118). 1880 Birds called blackbirds that look like parrots and are in no way related to their English namesakes (Powles 60). = BLACK CROW, BLACK DAW, JACK DAWL, GRAVEYARD BIRD, RAIN-CROW, LONG-TAIL CROW

2. the red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus: 1972 (Paterson 163). = POLICEMAN, RICE BIRD (Eleu., Long, White)

[W3 different sp.] n. a medicinal plant, Avicennia nitida: 1978 Black bush . . used for the "building up of a breakdown system" (Higgs 15). = BLACK MANGROVE, BLACKWOOD I, GREEN TURTLE BOUGH, SALT BUSH (Long, San Sal.)

n. 1. a bird, the black grosbeak (Loxigilla noctis): 1880 (Cory 87). (Inagua)

2. a bird, the Greater Antillean bullfinch (Loxigilla violacea): 1960 (Bond 231). = JACK SPANIARD, (RED) SPANIARD, SPANISH PAROQUET

[DJE different sp.] n. a land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis, considered a delicacy: 1925 Black crab live in the land (Finlay 297). 1973 A basket of black crabs just off the boat from Andros (Missick 29). (Gen.)

the smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani: 1972 (Paterson 94). = BLACKBIRD 1, RAIN-CROW, BLACK DAW, JACK DAWL, LONG-TAIL CROW, GRAVEYARD BIRD

/blak doh(l)/ (San Sal.); black dolly /blak dóhli/ (Andros, Nassau) [cf. jack daw + doll(y)] n. a bird, the smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani): 1960 Black daw . . . smooth-billed ani (Bond 118). = BLACKBIRD, LONG-TAIL CROW, BLACK CROW, RAIN-CROW, JACK DAWL, GRAVEYARD BIRD

[US different sp. W3] n. 1. a tree, Albizzia lebbek: 1889 (Gardner 375). = MUSIC TREE, SINGING TREE, WHISTLING BEAN, WOMAN'S TONGUE

2. a tree, Pera bumelitfolia: 1920 (Britton 196). = BULL WOOD (Exuma)

n. 1. the Bahama yellowthroat, Geothlypis rostrata. See quot. for def. 2.

2. the common yellowthroat, G. trichas: 1972 Both species are known as black-eye birds-a very apt name for the males, which resemble small bandits with their black masks (Paterson 154).

[US black-eyed Susan different sp. W3] n. 1. a plant, Abrus precatorius, which has red beans with a black spot: 1889 (Gardner 377). = BEAD VINE, MAC KABEE, RED-EYE SUZY, (WILD) LICORICE. (Exuma, White)

2. a compositae (M. Rabley, p.c.).

[etym?] n. a hardwood tree (sp?): 1782 Manchinella, black feney, dog-wood (Bruce 45). 1975 Lesser known hardwoods ... black feney (Albury 79). (Exuma)

[W Car.] n. a large, deep-sea shark (sp?). (Exuma, San Sal., White)

[OED to abuse or revile in scurrilous terms; US dial. South idem ADD] v.t. to insult a person's family. (Eleu.)

[from color] n. a stinging insect (sp?) resembling an ant.
(Abaco)

n. a flat iron for pressing clothes, heated over a fire: 1977  Black irons, heated by an open fire, . . . were used for ironing clothes (Albury 14). (Andros, Mayag., White)

[DAE, DJE no sp.] n. a dark-colored jackfish, Caranx lugubris: 1968 (Böhlke 332). = PASSING JACK (Gen.)

n. a wasp, Pepsis sp.: 1978 Sometimes called the black Jeff in the Bahamas, the tarantula hawk as an adult sips nectar from flowers, but as a juvenile . . feeds on ground spiders (Campbell 13).

[US, land having a black soil DAE] n. rich inland soil containing humus: But now the crab they start a-walking in the black land in the night (San Sal.). cf. RED LAND, WHITE LAND (Gen.)

[US different sp. W3] n. a tree, Avicennia nitida, with leaves that are dark green or almost black: 1910 (Northrop 180). 1977 Black mangrove . . . A. germinans (Patterson 89). = BLACKWOOD 1, GREEN TURTLE BOUGH, SALT BUSH (Black)

[DAE, DES prison van, DAS a hearse] n. 1. a hand ambulance used on police cases before the day of motor ambulances: 1936 Ma say Pa shuddy know she didn' mean fer true t' nock him cross he head an' an' sen fer d' black maria (Dupuch 90, 121).

2. an insult. (Andros)

n. the hammerhead shark, Carcharhinus acronotus: 1968 (Böhlke 16). (Black)

/blak sáysal/ n. a dark variety of sisal, Agave sp. (Andros, San Sal.)

n. a plant, Scaevola plumierii, with black berries: 1920 (Britton 429). = INK BERRY, PEN-AND-INK (Exuma)

[Car.] n. a spider, Latrodectus mactans, the poisonous black widow: One a them black spider could be in the grass and you won't know (Nassau). = BOTTLE SPIDER (Gen.)

n., an eel, Quassiremus productus: 1968 (Böhlke 105). (Black)

n. 1. [W Car.] a variety of cassava. (San Sal., Mayag.)

2. [cf. STICK tree] a tree, Erithalis fruticosa. = BLACK TORCH(WOOD) (Exuma)

See TAR-BABY.

[cf. THRASHER] n, a bird, the pearly-eyed thrasher (Margarops fuscatus): 1960 (Bond 169). (Exuma, San Sal.) = JACK BIRD, PAWPAW BIRD

n. a plant, Tetrazygia cleagnoides: 1889 (Gardner 380). (Exuma, White)

 n. a tree, Erithalis fruticosa: 1905 (Shattuck 237). = BLACK STICK 2 (Gen.)

adj. bruised (of an eye): Her eye look all black up (Nassau). (Black)

v. phr. [Car.; DJE from "black (or block, which is also /blak/ in the dial.)" of Jam. but in Bah. /blonk/] to lose control of one's actions under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. (Gen.).

/blákas/ [referring to skin color] n. an insulting name (youth slang). (Nassau)

/blak was/ [W Car.] n. a black stinging insect (sp?): Black wasp, that's a big wasp have black wings—we's call it the poison wasp, too (Nassau). (Andros, Nassau)

[US different sp. W3; from the color of its leaves rather than wood] n. 1. a tree, Avicennia germinans: 1869 (Bacot 89). = BLACK MANGROVE

2. a tree, Picrodendron macrocarpum: 1920 (Britton 103). (Inagua, White)

[Belize idem (Dayley 1979); cf. Haitian blad idem TDKF; OED, anything inflated and hollow] n. a balloon: They were selling bladders for the children (Nassau).

[from the cutting blade] phr. smoothing down limestone to make a road: 1976 Thousands of miles of roads have been made by "blading off" the rough surface of the limestone (Evans 36). (Eleu., Mayag.)

[etym?] n., Obs. a cotton field: 1832 People weeding in the Cotton field, or what the Negroes call the Blanket Field (Farquharson 12).

/blas; also blast (White)/ [cf. Jam. black blast DJE; OED a sudden infection destructive to vegetable or animal life (formerly attributed to the blowing or breath of some malignant power; to wither or fall under a blight obs. → 1630; DAE → 1905]

v. 1. (of corn or maize) to grow poorly; to not yield well: The corn blas'(Eleu.). (Black)

2. (of corn or maize) to wither: The corn was blasted (White).

3. (of a farm) to fail: The cold came and the farm blast out so we came back (Ragged).

—adj. (of corn or maize) blistered, with kernals not fully developed due to improper pollenation: Blast corn (Eleu.).

 n. 1. [OED, prospering influence of God] a very brief shower of rain. (Andros, San Sal.)

2. [OED, euphemism for a curse] a scolding (ironic): He gave me a blessing: 1977 (Albury 157).

 [cf. W3 blind subterfuge] n. an intentionally misleading explanation; a cover-up. (Black)

[cf. DJE blind-eye different sp., "resin is liable to irritate the eyes of axemen"] n. a shrub, Helicteres jamaicensis: 1920 (Britton 276). = COW BUSH 2 (Eleu., San Sal.)

[cf. blind alley an alley closed at one end] n. a small gravel road leading off the main one. (Eleu.)

 phr. (of a passage way) blocked: I can't get past—the door block out (Nassau). (Black)

(Black); block (San Sal., Mayag., Inagua) [cf. US city block; Australian the block a street or quarter of a city; often a section popular as a promenade W3] n. city streets, especially as a place for young people to stand around and converse: 1974 Blocks: regular hang-out (King 26). Playing the block (Mayag.). As we travel through the streets of New Providence, boys and girls of different walks of life are seen hanging out on the blocks (Nassau).

See BELONG.

(White); blorry (Eleu.) [cf. W3, DJE loblolly different sp.] n. a tree, Guapira discolor: 1977 (Patterson 75). 1977 Bloli-wood (Albury 25).

/blúwchal/ [from blue shell?] n. the name of a folktale character. (Cat)

[OED, a hot spark, a man of fire ... rake, roisterer obs. early 19th century] n. a daredevil: 1936 Dat time we shoot right tru' d' carriage over d' seat [on a scooter] . He say, 'I is a blood hey?" (Dupuch 58). cf. YOUNG BLOOD 2

[W3, DJE different sp.] n. a tree, Guapira obtusa, with juicy red berries: 1977 (Patterson 86). = BEEFWOOD (Andros, Exuma)

[OED, animal which sucks blood] n.

1. a variety of mosquito. (Adelaide)

2. the bedbug. (San Sal.)

3. a witch reputed to suck people's blood: 1904 Congo . . . witches or "hags" [with] their repute as "bloodsuckers" (Clavel 36). (Inagua)

/blujúwm, bluzhúwm/ [also Guy. baajow idem (Yansen 13), Gui. boo-joo (Writers' Program 1940:4); cf. Yoruba bo ... jum! drop ... splash! (Oyedeji p.c.)] intj. imitative of the sound of a splash: 1936 All dey hear is bloojdom—splash—an' wun o' d' fellers in d'. .. boat jump off an' swim fer shore (Dupuch 95). (Gen.)

[W3 "after Mrs. Amelia Bloomer (died 1894) Am. pioneer in social reform who advocated such clothing ... a costume for women introduced about 1850 . .. full loose underpants gathered at the knee] n. women's underpants of current fashion (term considered less vulgar than drawers). (Andros, Exuma)

n. a particular plant (sp?) with yellow flowers. (Nassau, Inagua)

n. 1. [cf. Brit. dial. North, Scots blow breathe EDD; DHS blow a breathing space, have a blow to rest] a rest, especially in the idioms: catch a blow (Gen.); get a blow (Eleu., White); take a blow (Inagua).

2. cocaine: Want some blow? (Nassau)

—v. 1. [Atlantic; US dial. South idem (Brown 1976) cf. BLOW n 1] to rest: 1918 When he reach home, he blow. He say, "O Lor'! I tired!" (Parsons 51). (Gen.)

2. [W Car.] (of turtles and other divers) to come up for air: 1918 Jack dive until when he blow, he blow on a strange little island (Parsons 127).  136 Missa Young like turtle. Man, when he sink away he ain' gon blow in town, he comin' out chock t' Fox Hill (Dupuch 94). (Gen.)

3. [W3 of insects: to deposit eggs] (of flies) to annoy 1918 De flies begin to blow him (Parsons 75). (Black)

/blów kohngk/ n. a conch shell with a small hole in the tip, used as a horn for signaling. = CONCH SHELL (Gen.)

n. 1. [Car.; Brit. usage] laundry bluing: 1918 He take a white sheet an a tub o' water. . . an' put blue in de water (Parsons 151). (Gen.)

2. the blue deep water beyond the reef: 1977 (Albury 157). cf. WHITE WATER (Gen.)

[US slang idem (A. Abrahamse p.c.); DAS gonorrhea] n. aching of the testicles caused by sexual frustration: 1971 The sexual frustrations . . were often excruciatingly painful for the boys. Many a Bahamian male knows the woes of "blue balls" (McCartney 111). (Mayag.)

[from first line of a song] n. a children's RING-PLAY with variations: a. played like "London Bridge" but sung to a different tune (San Sal.), or b. players excluded when tapped on the shoulder (Exuma): 1977 (Albury 103). (Gen.)

n. a fragrant herb, Nepeta coerulea, related to catnip (N. cataria): 1889 (Gardner 398). = CAT MINT, JERUSALEM CATNIT (Mayag., Inagua)

n. a plant, Veronia cinerea, with bright blue flowers. (Exuma)

[cf. FLOWERS] n. a plant, Valerianoides or Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, with bright blue flowers on a long, erect spike: 1889 (Gardner 398). Shepherd needle and blue flowers good for tea-all two of them nice. (Nassau). (Gen.)

n. 1. [Belize idem (Escure 1980:7)] a deep, usually round hole in the ocean floor: 1905 Submarine ocean holes, or "blue holes" shown by an isolated area of blue water in the midst of a sea of green (Shattuck 10). cf. OCEAN HOLE (Gen.)

2. a deep hole on land with tidal water connected to the ocean: 1976 Water will dissolve the rocks and make big channels large enough to be called caves. Blue holes were formed by the collapse of caves from the up and down movement of tidal water (Evans 8). (Gen.)

n. the red-legged thrush, Mimocichla plumbea: 1960 (Bond 174). BLUE THRASHER 1, SPANISH THRASHER

[cf. DJE blue-bud cassava and the Blue Mountains of Jamaica] n. two varieties of cassava: 1. bitter cassava which is poisonous: Blue Mountain cassava, da's de poison kind you make starch out (Nassau).

2. white cassava which is non-poisonous. (Mayag.)

(San Sal.); blue rimba (Berry); blue rimpa (Andros); blue wimbo (Cat) [cf. GILLEM-BOW] n. a fish, Iridio bivittatus; it is the mature SLIPPERY DICK and resembles the blue parrotfish. cf. PORG

n. a jackfish, Caranx fusus: 1968 (Böhlke 331). (Gen.)

n. a fish, Synodus saurus: 1968 (Böhlke 60). = CANIMO (Bleu., San Sal.)

[DJE different sp.] n. a lizard, Ameiva auberi: 1880 The blue-tailed lizard frequents hot, sandy places ... It is about ten inches long (Ives 133). = GIANT LIZARD, LION LIZZARD cf. THREEPENCE LIZARD, KING LIZARD (Inagua)

n. an angelfish, Acanthurus coeruleus: 1968 (Böhlke 656). (Black)

(Inagua); blue thrusher (White) [cf. Brit. dial. South thresher, thrusher; US thrasher all thrush OED] n. I. the red-legged thrush, Mimocichla plumbea: 1880 (Cory 45). = BLUE JANE, SPANISH THRASHER

2. the gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis: 1975 (Brudenell 91).

See BLUE RAINBOW.

adj. [US dial. idem ADD] bluish: 1978 The thin bluey-white milk under the [coconut] cream is of no use (Higgs 91). (Black)

--n. a blue marble. (Black)

[OED, to glance with the eye obs. → 1450] v. 1.(of girls) to turn the head to one side and smile coyly (no reference to skin tone). = PRIM (San Sal.)

2. to flirt: These girl like blush and cut up with the boys (Nassau). (Eleu., Nassau)

See B'.

/bow/ [cf. Gul. boar coon (Rhame 1933:41); cf. OED boar male swine, transferred to obs. boar cat, boar dog, etc. for male of species] n., usually in compounds 1. male of certain animals: 1895 Let two boar lizards fight (Edwards 91). She ain' want no she-crab-all she want is boar (Nassau). (Gen.)

2. male of certain plants: Boar pawpaw (Adelaide). (Gen.)

3. [cf. BOAR 2] a tree that does not bear fruit. (Mayag., San Sal.)

4. [Cf. BOAR 3, BOAR-STAG; cf. similar semantic range of Krio kak woman exhibiting undesirable masculine qualities, i.e. masculine appearance, inability to bear children, etc. KED] an infertile woman (derog.): She is a boar-she can't have children. (Andros, lieu.)

[cf. BOAR 2, 3] a tree, Philanthus myrtilloides: 1905 (Shattuck 237). (Inagua)

/bow kat/; bull cat /bu kat/ [Atlantic; cf. OED  boar cat male cat obs.→1797; also Brit., US dial. South EDD, ADD] n. a male cat: That white cat next door is a boar cat-tha's how come he fight the kitten (Nassau). (Black)

[Atlantic; cf. DJE, KED; also Gul. piece o' boa'd (Parsons 1923:13)] n. wood, as a material: In a hurricane it is best to put some type of hard material around cracks and windows, like board (Nassau). A board kitchen, not a rock kitchen (Andros). cf. WOODS (Gen.)

[Jam. idem DJE; cf. BOARD] n. a type of machete with a wooden handle. (Black)

[Car.; cf. BOARD] n. home-made sandals with wooden soles: I hear about board shoes before-time, but l ain' never see none—only the wampers (Nassau). (Black)

(Mayag.); bull grass (Eleu., Adelaide) [cf. DAE bull grass a variety of pasture grass, Paspalum undulatum] n. a kind of tall, broad-bladed grass (sp?) used as fodder.

/bow gamélami/ [cf. BOAR 2, 3] n. 1. a tree, Bursera inaguensis: 1977 (Patterson 103). (Gen.)

2. the male gum-elemi tree, Bursera simaruba: Gum elemi-boar and she. = TOURIST TREE 1 (Exuma)

n. a plant, Callicarpa hitchcockii, used medicinally: 1920 (Britton 373). 1978 Bo' Hog Bush is used to stimulate the appetite . . . the brew made of boiled leaves makes one "eat like a ho (boar) hog" (Higgs 3). (Gen.)

n. a tree, Linociera bumelioides: 1977 (Patterson 71). (Exuma, Inagua)

n. a tree, Coccoloba krugii, with small, dark red fruit: 1920 (Britton 118). = CRAB WOOD 3, FAMILY WOOD (Black)

/bow stag/ [cf. Brit. dial. Mid., West idem a castrated boar; cf. also BOAR 4] n. a term of derision for either partner in a childless marriage: 1966 beau-stag (Otterbein 56).

/bow tísl(i)/ [cf. OED, a corruption of bur thistle, DAE bull thistle, both different sp.] n. a plant, Sonchus oleraceus, with yellow flowers. (Inagua, Nassau)

[cf. TOP palm] n. a variety of palm tree, Coccothrinax sp.: To make a broom: look for about ten leaves of bow top and tie the ends with a piece of wine. Place the wood down the centre of the tops (COB). = THATCH BERRY, TOP BERRY (Nassau)

 n. a tree, Diospyros crassinervis, with round black fruit: 1920 (Britton 326). = FEATHERBED, OLD MAN 2 (San Sal.)

/bówsin/ (Gen.); boastin' /bówstin/ (Berry) [Atlantic; cf. Krio bosin hernia KED; Guy. son swollen testicles (Rickford 1976:8); Jam. buosan "(cf. Twi abosi sp. of yam) a piece cut off a yam 'which goes on swelling' ... a bodily deformity in which a member swells out of shape" DJE II; also US dial. South bussen affected with rupture or hernia ADD; the boastin' form is a hypercorrection influenced by boast, v.; cf. also bursting]
n. a swelling in the scrotum caused by straining; a hernia: A man's get a big lump next his thing sometime—da's a boassin (Nassau).

(Black); boasty (White) [Car.; cf. OED boasty boastful obs.] adj. boastful; conceited.

n. a plant, Rhoeo discolor: 1920 (Britton 68). = PURPLE LILY

[cf. OED, a rounded mass at the end of a rod, etc.; a knob obs. → 1659] n. a round lump, such as the large seed of the castor oil plant or the cap of a fungus: Buffalo [a fungus] have a big round bob on top. (Andros)

/bówbow/ [cf. Atlantic bumbo idem; "cf. Temne a-bómbo labia, Zulu -búmbu pubic region, Xhosa -bhombo vagina" (Hancock 1969:71), Kongo bumbu fertility (Carter p.c.); cf. 1811 DVT butnbo the negro name for the private parts of a woman; cf. Antillean Fr. bobo prostituée de bas étage (Germain 1976:226) and Haitian bóbót, bobo genitals (woman) HCEFD] n. vagina. (Mayag., Ragged, White)

[cf. BOSTON] phr. to get nearly all the tricks in playing whist: We gone bobo on them—they didn't even get one book (Nassau).

/badúwda/ [etym?] n. a small red and black land crab. = JUNJO, SHAGGO (Mayag.)

/bohg/ [Gul. idem (Writers' Program 1940:62); cf. OED bog v.i. to sink and stick in a bog obs.  → 1800] v.i. to sink and stick as in mud or sand: The car bog—can't move (San Sal.). (Black)

/bowg/ [ W Car.; cf. Brit: dial. North bog /bowg/ + Sp. boca river mouth DJE, also US dial. South bogue creek ADD] n., Obs. boggy land; now only found in place names, such as the Eleuthera settlements of Upper and Lower Bogue: 1817 We were visited by a severe gale. . . the Boague did not suffer much (Dowson 92).

/bówgas/ adj. [cf. US Black bogart a bully; a physically aggressive person (Claerbaut)] aggressive; outspoken. (Nassau)

n. [cf. colloq. Brit. boagy, , Scots boakie, US booger idem] nasal mucus. = BOO, BOOBOO, BOOBY, BOOGIE (Exuma)

/boyl, borl/ n. 1. [W Car.; cf. OED, that which is boiled 1755; Scots, meat for boiling CSD] a stew; anything boiled: 1918 They put on a boil of hot water (Crowley 51). (Gen.)

2. a boiling movement of water: 1910 We see a perceptible "boil" on the surface that was undoubted caused by the rising water (Northrop 35). cf. BOILING HOLE (Gen.)

3. [Car.] any raised sore or swollen lymph glands. (Gen.)

[boil could derive from boiled (cf. FRY FISH) or be a n. adjunct (cf. BOIL 1)] n. a Bahamian dish, consisting of whitefish steaks boiled with potatoes and onions (Nassau) or with salt pork, lime, and chili peppers (Exuma): 1978 [A traditional Bahamian breakfast] boil fish and hominy (Higgs 21). (Gen.)

[cf. BOIL 2] n. a deep hole in the sea floor with surging fresh water: 1910 The boiling hole was about a foot under water at low tide. . . when the tide was rising outside, the clear sea water could be distinctly seen ascending (Northrop 35). 1976 Boiling holes, where fresh water surges up under the sea, show that in places there is a connection underground between the land and the sea through which fresh water can flow out at certain states of the tide (Evans 8). Cf. BLUE HOLE, OCEAN HOLE (Gen.)

[cf. US dial. South boil the pot to cook a vegetable dinner WEA] phr. to be financially able to eat: If you can boil your pot, don't care who can boil theirs [i.e. if one can get along himself, he is unlikely to be concerned about others who cannot]. (Long)

[Car.; OED, audacious] adj. aggressively rude. (Gen.)

/bohm/; boum /bum/ [cf. Haitian bobo from Fr, bonbon confection] n. a kind of coco-nut tart: Coconut bomb: 30 cents [on a menu at a fair] (Andros).

/bohm ches/; boom-chest /burn ches/ [probably from collision with chest] n. a children's game in which a handful of pebbles or snail shells is tossed in the air then butted with the chest. (Black)

(Black); bonavis peas (White) /bóhnavis/ [DJE idem "from the place of origin, the island of Bona Vista, Cape Verde"] n. an edible bean, Dolichos lablab or D. swartzii.

n. the central spine of a palm frond. (Andros, Exuma)

[etym?] phr. (in playing KNUCKS HOLE with marbles) the announcement made after going from the first to the third hole and back again for the third time, thus winning. = GOLD. Cf. BRASS, SILKER (Black)

See BANNY-SINKEL.

[cf. BANG-BANG, DING-DONG] v. to ring (a bell): They had a bell which they bong when they needed it (Long). (Gen.)

bonnet-cub (Gen.); bonnet-nose cub (Mayag.); bonnet-mouth (Exuma, Inagua) [from the lobes around the mouth (see quot.); cf. CUB, COR13] n. the bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo: 1880 You call 'em bonnet-cub sharks—why is that? 'Kause there's something 'bout dar heads that looks like an old fashion ladies' bonnet (Ives 153). 1968 Bonnet-mouth . . . (Inermia vittata) (Böhlke 305).

[cf. B', B'O' brother] n. my dear (as a term of address). (Black)

[Bajan idem (Collymore)] n. nasal mucus. (White)

[Pan-Creole; cf. MCC buubuu, Sra. boeboe NEW, Guy, boo-boo man (Yansen 14), Trin. Fr. boubou (Thomas 20) idem; a convergence of Brit. dial. North, Scots boo to roar EDD and Ewe bubui bogy man WES] n. 1, a frightening spirit: 1936 I say, "Juntpin' booboos, lenzmuh go see what dis crazy woman want" (Dupuch 29). (Gen.)

2. [Atlantic; cf. BOOBOO¹ 1, but also Krio babu baboon; ugly person KED] nickname for a large, ugly person. (Gen.)

[cf. Gul. bubu any insect (usually one whose sting is poisonous); cf. Fula mbubu a fly, Kongo mbu mosquito, Fon  mbutu insect (Turner 1949:191)] n. 1. the housefly. (San Sal., Andros)

2. the fruitfly. = BOOMBA FLY, BUMBLE FLY (Adelaide)

3. a long, black stinging insect (sp?). (Crooked)

4. any flying insect that annoys: Anything that's fly around your house is a booboo (Nassau).

[Car.; cf. BOO²] n. nasal mucus.  (San Sal.)

/búwbi/ [cf. B00² , BOOBOO³] n. nasal mucus. (Mayag., Ragged)

 /búwdow bat/ [etym?; cf. BAT moth] n. a large, dark moth (sp?); its wings leave a smudge if touched. (Andros, San Sal.)

See BOUF.

[Probably the convergence of two words of different origin, one meaning 'devil' and the other 'dance'. For the first, cf. OED Bogy the devil (probably Germanic; cf. Swiss Böög Ghost of Winter) and Brit. dial. forms (Orton L64) as well as US booger ghost DAE, also Black (Parsons 1917a:189). For the second meaning, Dalby (1972:178) notes US Black "boog to dance; cf. Hausa buga, bugi and Mandingo bugo, both to beat, to beat drums; also Krio bogi(-bogi) to dance." The connection could be in US Black boogie-woogie, which "some people believe refers to the devil, the 'boogie" (Major). In US dial. boogie meant a lurking, vengeful Indian, later applied to a Negro ADD, probably the source of booger dance a grotesque masked dance in Cherokee Indian winter festivals W3]

v. 1. to die unsaved and go to hell: The old lady boogie 'cause she is a witch (Eleu.).

2. to go out dancing (youth slang). (Nassau)

[cf. US booger idem W3; DAS bugger, boogie idem] n. nasal mucus. (Eleu.)

n. [cf. 1811 DVT books cards to play with; DHS the first six tricks at whist] n. (in card games) a trick: I only need two more books to win (Nassau). (Gen.)

v. [cf. BUCK] butt: D' ram-goat book 'im in he belly (Dupuch p.c.). (Nassau)

[cf. BOUGAMAN 2 and Scots boakie idem CSD] n. nasal mucus. (Long)

/búki/ [Pan-Creole; cf. Prov. Breda Bookie (Washabaugh 1980:8), Louisiana Black Bookee (Fauset 1927:242), Haitian Bouqui (Crowley 1966:29); the origin seems to be European (cf. Fr. bouc and obs. Eng. buck, both male goat) with possible African convergence (cf. Wolof bouki hyena, Crowley 1966:29); cf. also BOOK v] n. a folk-tale character: 1966 B' Booky: the stupid, greedy, lascivious foil of B' Rabby, some-times his brother or close friend, usually bigger in size, and conceived as a rabbit, goat, monkey, or as a human (Crowley 29). (Gen.)

/búwmba/, boomby /búwmbi/ [cf. US dial. South boompie idem DARE, North boomba (C. Pales p.c.); also South Am. Sp. bombó idem (Hancock 1969:71)] n. buttocks. = BOOM-BOOM

See BE BO BEN.

[cf. BOOBOO² 2] n. a gnat. = BUMBLE FLY (Black)

/búwmbuwm/ [cf. Guy. bambam idem (Rickford 1976:6), Trin. bombóm idem, Brit. bum (North /bum/) idem (Hancock 1969: 71); cf. also BOOMBA] n. buttocks (child's word). (Gen.)

[US promoter W3] n. 1. a powerful person behind a scheme. (Black)

2. a boy who conveys messages between lovers. (Andros, Mayag.)

[etym?] n. a variety of avacado. (Exuma)

/búwtalayz/ [cf. Jam. b'ute brute DJE, OED brutalize to treat as a brute, or brutally] v. to have sexual intercourse (with a girl). (Mayag.)

[Belize idem (Dayley 1979); from pl.] n. sing. and pl. boot: I meet one boots lying on the floor. cf. SHOES, SLIPPERS, SOCKS, GLOVES (Abaco, Nassau)

/bow/ [Atlantic; cf. Jam, bore to be penetrated DJE, Krio bo having a hole KED; from passivization or past participle of Eng. bore] adj. pierced; having a hole: Your ears bore? (Nassau). Bore cane—worm bore it (Eleu.). (Black)

/bówra/ [cf. Vir. boora a disease that attacks sugar cane (Emanuel 1972:84); cf. BORE and Kogno -bola rot (Carter). adj. (of sugar cane) rotten; having black spots: The cane borer when it have a piece run through another color - it spoil (Nassau). (Black)

— n. a boring worm. (San Sal., Mayag.)

See BOASSIN.

See BOASSIN.

 /bohn/ [Atlantic; from past participle born] v. 1. to be born: Chillun borning (Brown 32). (Black)

2. [US dial. South idem ADD] to give birth to: 1977 I's the oldest child Mama born (Shilling 51). The dog borning puppies (Nassau). cf. BIRTH (Black)

born in the bush [Car.; cf. BUSH ₁ forest] phr. unsophisticated; naive. (Gen.)

born sick in his head phr. mentally retarded; emotionally disturbed. (Eleu.)

[also US dial. Gen., Black ADD] v. to borrow: We couldn't find we scrubber so we borry Con Nelly own (Andros).

[Car.; cf. Sra. basi excellent (Dillard 1976:34); from supremacy of the boss?] adj. excellent: 1978 Man, dat was a boss souse! (Dupuch 31). (Gen.)

[Car.; cf. SA baas master, sir "mode of address usu. by non-whites to the master or employer ... from Dutch baas master, captain"; cf. also US dial. South, Black boss-man ADD]

n. 1. term of address to a man viewed as a superior or one from whom a favor is expected (used especially by Haitians): 1880 Can't you give me a penny, boss? (Ives 49). 1885 Evidently "Boss" is a more important personage than "Massa", for Buddy calls Sampson "Massa" and Tom "Boss" (Brassey 330). 1888 A gentleman is usually addressed as "Boss" or "Buckra" (Powles 154). I say, "All right, bossman, I goin' home now" (Andros). (Gen.)

2. one's superior at work; one's employer: 1918 Mas' Tom was the bossman of the work (Parsons 84). (Gen.)

(Gen.); boss missus /bohs mísaz/ (Andros); Miss Boss (Nassau) [cf. BOSSMAN] n. 1. term of address to one's female employer. 

2. a female employer: My boss missus send me to the shop (Andros).

(Eleu.), go Boston (Gen.) [OED, a game at cards, allied to whist, named after the siege of Boston] v. phr. (in whist) to get nearly all the tricks. = GO BOBO

[OED, to annoy (a person)] v. to tamper with (a thing): The children used to bother this door so much when they passing and I in the back (Andros).

[cf. GLASS BOTTLE idem and Haitian bouay (lit. bottle) idem HCEFD] n. broken glass: Bring Julie back before 'e get cut with bottle (Nassau). (Gen.)

n. a musical instrument: 1978 A bottle with a corrugated surface scraped by a metal stick. Generally the metal stick was a six-inch nail and the bottle a square Gilbey's gin flask (Bethel 37).

n. bottle cap: No use to put the bottle cover back—the coke gon spoil (Nassau). (Black)

[cf. BOTTLE broken glass] n. dancing over broken glass with bare feet (originally associated with obeah, now a nightclub act for tourists): 1978 (Bethel 128). (Eleu., Nassau)

(Eleu., Mayag.); bottle-light (Andros) n. a beer or soda bottle filled with kerosene, with a rag forming a wick: They's catch the crab in the night. They's carry bottle-light (Andros). = FLAMPER

[from the shape of the red spot under the abdomen] n. the poisonous black widow spider, Latrodectus mactans: 1978 (Campbell 11). = BLACK SPIDER

[cf. US dial. South, Mid bottom low-lying, swampy land; a community in such an area, often poor DARE; US Black (Black) Bottom a run-down, disreputable area in a black community (Major)] n. 1. a neighborhood in a low-lying area, as at the foot of a hill. (Eleu., San Sal.)

2. the poorest area in a community. cf. COUNTER BOTTOM, OVER BACK (Exuma, Nassau)

phr. drying out a boat's hull: 1977 Most of the dinghies were hauled out . . . to get a good bottom-drying (Albury 23). (Gen.)

/buf/ intj. 1. [W Car.; cf. Scots bouff to strike with the hand so as to cause a hollow sound CSD; US dial. biff to hit, strike DARE] the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. (Black)

2. touché! (after an insult that struck home). (Black)

3. (to a close friend) hello! (youth slang). (Nassau)

4. (of a proposed social arrangement) agreed! (Black)

/buf/ n. [cf. BOUF intj.; cf. DAS biff an unsuccessfully played note on a brass instru-ment (Negro); also US dial. South boof a scare, fright ADD] a blow to one's ego; a slight humiliation: (A student waves his hand enthu-siastically, but gives the wrong answer; a class-mate comments) "Da 's a bouf! "(Nassau)

—v.t. [cf. DAS biff idem; cf. Haitian bif plop HCEED] to hit a person; to beat him up: I'll bouf you! (Black)

/búflaka/ [etym?] n. a fish, Gerres cinereus, a large shad. (Cat)

/búfuw/ [from browned flour] n. a beverage resembling hot chocolate made from flour browned in a pot mixed with sugar and water. = BROWN FLOUR TEA (White)

/bowga(n)víliya, bowga(n)víli; buwga(n)víliya, buwga(n)víli; bunggavíliya/ [named after a Fr. navigator, Louis Antoine de Bougainville W3] n. bougainvillea, a woody vine with brilliant red or purple flowers: 1940 I like banana trees an' hibiscus an' bougavilly muhsef (Dupuch 63). (Gen.)

/búgamàn/ [cf. OED bogy phantom causing fright; also Brit. dial. boogyman (Orton L64), US dial. boogerman W3] n. a phantom evoked to frighten children: 1977 Mama said, "Look out for the Bugga Man. If you don't behave, he'll get you . . . In his stiff black suit and his long black boots, he'll come with his bag and he'll catch you!" (Full 71). (Gen.)

[cf. BOOGIE, BOOKER-MAN, etc.] n. nasal mucus (Eleu., Exuma, White)

 /búnggi/ [cf. W Car. bunki, bunggi idem (Holm 1978); probably from Brit. slang bung(hole) anus DHS, /bung/ in North, Mid dial.] n. buttocks (often an earthy tb vulgar child's word, as opposed to hip among women, and ass among men): 1966 The butter come ploping out he bungee (Crowley 95). Your boungy! [a defiatnt refusal] (Nassau).  (Black)

v.t. to have anal sex. (Black)

[Cf. BOUNGY n.] n. phr. anal sex. (Black)

See BANNY-SINKEL.

See BOAR, BORE.

/baw futs/ [cf. nautical bow front (of ship)] n. forelegs, such as of a pig. cf. STAND-FOOTS, STERN-FOOTS Wayag.)

/baw layn/ [cf. OED, rope to steady sails] n. an anchor line; a rope from the bow of a boat to the shore: 1936 Errybuddy get d' holiday spirit wun time an' leggo bow line (Dupuch 72). (Black)

 /báwman/ [OED, oarsman nearest bow] n. harpooner, in bow of dinghy when fishing: The bowman have to get his share too (Andros). (Adelaide, Andros)

[US two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle DAB] n. a boy's coasting wagon, made of a wooden box mounted on wheels: 1936 He got one jaw buil' like box cart (Dupuch 53, 121). (Gen.)

[DJE idem] n. a fish of the famiy Ostraciontidae with a bony outer shell, varieties include the COW FISH and TRUNK FISH: 1934 The box-fish, a triangular piscine with a bony outer shell (Bell 84). = SHELL FISH (Gen.)

[cf. DHS box the Jesuit to masturbate] n. masturbation: 1971 (McCartney 113). (Black)

[cf. Scots box-master treasurer of a benefit society CSD] n. (at a church fund-raising CONCERT) the man who sits at the collection box (placed on a table at the front of the church) keeping track of donations and periodically annoncing the total. = TABLE-MAN (Black)

[from box + chest] n. a chest or trunk: 1918 Take de bunch o' key, open box o' ches' (PArsons 159), cf. CHISS (Black)

/bohy, boy/ [cf. Scots, a male person of any age and condition if unmarried and residing in the parental home; US dial. South a Negro of any age ADD; SA idem] n. a Black man (now considered offensive, unless used between equals): 1888 Every darky, however old, is a boy (Powless 66). 1973 [He] was no longer a "waiter" but "boy". So we fought for our dignity (Missick 35), cf. BUOY

2. a term of address (to females as well as males; cf. MAN): Yes, boy! (Inagua.) (Black)

[cf. B'O', BOOKY] n., Obs. a dance popular in the 1930's: 1976 Sweating dancers doing the "Boy Bookie slide" (Eneas 33)

[Pan-Creole; cf. Pap. mucha homber (lit. child man) idem (Loftman 1953:29); cf. Port. Cr. fiǰu-máča (lit, child male) idem (Meintel 1975:211); probably a calque on an African term, e.g. Bambara dén-ce (lit, child-man) son (A. Kihm), or Twi be-ma (lit, son-child) son (K. Aboagye); dub cf. also Scots lad-bairn a male child CSD] n. son: 1918 He had t'ree gal chil' an' four boy chil' (Parsons 121). cf. GIRL-CHILD (Black)

[cf. Scots laddie-days boyhood CSD] n. childhood; youth: In my boy-days. cf. GIRL DAYS (Black)

[from B'O' ANANSI] n. a folk-tale hero: 1966 (Crowley 29). (Mayag.)

/bro/ [cf. B'] term of address to a male peer: Hey, bra, why you am' hail me yester-day? (Nassau).

/brágadówshas/[cf. Guy. bragadosha showoff (Yansen 14); from BRAGGY, influenced by braggadocio + -ious forming adj.] adj. boastful. (Gen.)

[OED, alternate form 1641, 1812; by analogy with -ard nouns (e.g. drunkard) or possibly from braggart by hypercorrection of devoiced final stops] n. braggart. (Eleu.)

[cf. Scots idem CSD] adj. boastful: 1966 (Crowley 102).  I ain' like her—she too braggy (Nassau). (Gen.)

/bréynzi/ [W Car.; cf. co]loq. Eng. adj. formed from n. pl. + -y (e.g. gutsy, ballsy) and MCC brienz brain (Holm 1978)] adj. clever. (Eleu.)

[ Atlantic; imitative] intj. bang: 1936 Dey. . . . cut off d' engines an stop full, bram! (Dupuch 14). cf. BRIGGADUM-BRAM (Gen)

 [W Car.; N. Irel. dial. idem EDD] n. 1. dry twigs: They part the field off with bramble—this part will be mines and the next part will be yours (Nassau).

2. kindling: Bramble are useful to light a fire. (Nassau, Abaco)

[DJE idem 1] n. 1. Obs? a plant, Solanum nodiflorum, night shade: 1889 Branched calalu . . . used by Obia men as a narcotic (Gardner 395).

2. a climbing vine (sp?) with purple flowers and a berry yielding oil, in contrast to CALALU, which grows on the ground. (Exuma)

[etym?] phr. (in playing KNUCKS HOLE with marbles) the announcement made after going from the first to the third hole and back again for the first time. cf. BONES, GOLD, SILKER (Black)

/braslíyta/ [cf. Jam. /brazilíta/ D.TE; cf. OED braziletto and 17th century brasiletta from Sp., Port. brasilete Jamaica wood, diminutive of brasil Brazilwood DJE] n. braziletto, Caesalpina crista, a dyewood. (Black)

See BASSLY.

[DAE idem, no sp.] n. a shrub, Anastraphia northropiana: 1905 (Shattuck 266). (White)

/brohn/ n. 1. [W3 calloused skin obs.; OED idem not obs.] calloused skin on the foot. (Mayag.)

2. [OED flesh of the boar] the skin of a wild boar. (White)

[Krio idem (Hancock p.c.); OED, shame-less] adj. (of girls) sexually precocious; promiscuous: These little girls too brazen—stead of doing the housework, they in the road talking to man (Crooked). cf. PLAY BRAZEN (Gen.)

/breyzan gyal/ [etym?] n. a variety of sweet potato. (Andros, Nassau)

See BRASSLITER.

[Car.; OED, a /oaf; a roll obs. → 1643] n. I. a loaf of bread; 1918 De nex' boy asked his mother to bake him a bread (Parsons 66). (Black)

2. a roll: one bread. (Eleu.)

3. bread (Long), bready (Exuma) [cf. US Black "sexual double entendre of .... cake and bread" (Dillard 1977:26); DAS bread vagina (never common)] female genitals. (Black)

[cf. Sra. bredeboeskoetoe biscuit from bread WST; US dial. South bread biscuit ADD, Black biscuit bread (Dillard 1977:103); perhaps to distinguish US biscuit (Brit. scone) from Ill-it. biscuit (US cookie)] n. a biscuit or scone: 1918 He saw de woman preparin' all dese roas' pig an' bread biscuits (Parsons 80). cf. FLOUR BISCUIT (DM.)

[cf. US Black bread money (Major); cf. BDNE I bread idem] n. money (street talk): 1974 (King 26). (Black)

v.t. [cf. BROKE] to cook (dried peas or beans) until soft or split. (Black)

—v.i. (of dried peas or beans) to become soft or split: Boil them till they bruck (Nassau). (Black)

adj. [cf. Gul. brek idem (Parsons 1923: 176); OED to become bankrupt ... now less usual; cf. also BROKE break—and a possible hypercorrection of the standard past participle] without money. (Black)

[OED nautical idem] n. a barrel or cask: We had to go to Raccoon Cay. . . supply water in our breaker carry down there (Ragged).

[W Car.] v. phr. to get up in the middle of the night. (Nassau)

v.t. to break open (a shell to remove the shellfish): 1978 Break out and clean whelks (Higgs 31). (Gen.)

v. phr. to develop breasts. (Andros, Mayag.)

[by analogy with packaging] v. phr. to have sexual intercourse with a virgin. (Black)

[from broke break + hypercorrection of Eng. past participle] adj. broken-down: Down so by that old break-up house (Long). (Gen.)

n. /bres/ [Car.; OED properly said of women, but sometimes of the lower animals] (of animals) udder. (Black)

prep. /bres/ [from abreast of] next to; by: 1936 I wait till he get down brest o' Missa Franklin house (Dupuch 45). You gatty walk the rock right up till you get breast to Rufus place (Eleu.). (Gen.)

/bret/ [cf. Gul. crack 'e bre't' open his mouth (to speak) (Gonzales 1924:22); cf. also Scots breath opinion; sentiments CSD] v. 1. to breathe: 1966 Watch you don't breath (Crowley 50). (Mayag.)

2. to divulge: Don't breath a word (Inagua).

3. to voice one's opinion; to speak one's mind: Her could-a talk behind Oscar back, but she couldna breath (Long).

4. to verbally challenge; to annoy: Don't breath me! (Exuma)

/bréda/ [Car.; Gul. idem (Gonzales 1922: 290)] n. brother (term of address to a male peer): [get two bredda what living (Andros). (Black)

[cf. Trin. broughtupsy idem (Winer p.c.); from well bred] n., Obs? good upbringing: 1929 She discovered in me signs of "breadedness" (Defries 116).

v. 1. [Car.; OED idem "now chiefly dial."] to be pregnant: 1918 She was breeding. . . and when she had baby, it was a nine-tail monkey (Parsons 92). (Gen.)

2. [W Car.] to make pregnant. (Gen.)

3. [cf. US dial. South, to experience the nausea and abnormal appetite of pregnancy ADD] to have morning sickness: 1966 (Otterbein 59). She breedin' bad (Exuma).

4. [cf. Krio brid to bear children KED] to inter-marry: Conchy Joe don't breed with no one else (Nassau). (Black)

[etym?] n. a boil on the skin. (White)

Atlantic; from nautical usage; cf. also Reunion Cr. Fr. briz idem, also arch., nautical Fr. (Chaudenson 1974:711)] n. a wind, of any strength: [used in reference to Hurricane David] (ZNS-TV, Sept. 1979). (Gen.)

(Black); bren-law (Eleu) [cf. Krio bran-lɔ idem KED; from brother-in-(law), but connotation that of Sp, cuñado or MCC waika] term of address or reference 1. to one's brother-in-law: 1940 Bren-law (Dupuch 124). Bren was drunk last night (Crooked). (Nassau)

2. to an unrelated male peer, the implication that the speaker is having unofficial sexual relations with his sister being a good-natured tease. (Nassau)

See BREATH.

[W3 "The root of various plants (as. Rhododendron and Smilax app.) used in the manufacture of tobacco pipes"] n. a plant (sp?) used medicinally: Bush tea. . . Briar Root (Brown 109). (Gen.)

n. shrub(s), variously identified: 1905 Calliandra haematoma (Shattuck 254). 1910 Terminalia spinosa (Northrop 171). 1977 Bucida spinosa (Patterson 19). cf. PRICKLY TREE (Gen.)

[cf. DAE brickley thatch brittle thatch or silver-top palmetto, Thrinax argentea; cf. US dial. South brickly brittle ADD] n. a variety of palm used in making baskets: Where the silver top, pond top and brickly top on the back there all is marl (Andros). cf. BRITTLE THATCH

(Inagua); bride bush (Andros) [OED bride bush bush hung out at the village alehouse in honour of a wedding] n. a shrub (sp?) used medicinally.

bruggadum-bram or -brum or -bam [Atlantic; cf. bragada(p), brigidi(m)-b(r)am(s) idem in WE, KED; "cf. Twi bìrim-(-birim) suddenly; plump!" DJE; cf. also Haitian briganday idem TDKF] intj. imitating the sound of banging and clanking: 1936 Putty soon [hear sump'n like wen d' dredger anchor broke loose, briggidum-bram —all kind o' iron an' chain an' ting cummin' upstairs (Dupuch 55). (Black)

—n. a domestic fight "with the throwing of pots, pans, and fish": They had a big briggidum-bam last night (Exuma).

adj. 1. also bright-skin [US Black idem (Major); cf. OED "Sally she a `Badian bright mulatto" 1910 sea shanty; cf. Ibo cháchá bright (of sun, skin color, etc.) (Okolo, p.c.)] having a light-brown complexion: 1966 Bright or light-skinned (Crowley 18). 1978 A bright-skin feller name Biggie from Okra Hill (Dupuch 31). Too many people are concerned with how bright their skin is (COB). 1982 I asked the bright boy if he was going to give me his hip (Guardian Jan. 26). (Gen.)

2. golden or tan in color: It wasn't this dark-brown sugar—it was pretty and bright (White).

[cf. BRIGHT] adj. (of persons) having a very light brown complexion: Now my sister, she bright-bright (Nassau).

/bráylan/ [by aphaeresis] n. Harbour Island, a cay off Eleuthera: 1936 'Brilan wuz all heat up 'bout dese 'lections (Dupuch 95).

[cf. US Black brim a hat (Claerbaut)] n. a straw hat. (Black)

[US Black idem (Walker 1956:135); as variant form also in OED, DAE, DJE] n. a fish, the bream. (Eleu)

(US Black idem; help to sober a person (Major); DAS a critica or cutting remark; to depress, sadden; OED to lower, humble (no examples with personal obj.)] v.t. 1. to humble or shame a person. (Gen.)

2. to disparage: The negro starts to bring down the white man race—how the white man can only do office jobs (COB). (Nassau)

—v. refl. to degrade oneself: 1974 Some of these brothers really bringing themselves down. You think Norman had to be a sissy? (King 8). (Gen.)

[cf. Car, bring out idem; OED, give birth to, last quot. 1668 but also Biblical (cf. Matthew 1:23)] v. to bear (offspring). (Black)

[cf. US dial. idem breeches, short trousers n.pl. W3] n. sing., pl. trousers: 1966 This britches (Crowley 99). (Eleu, White).

[DAE idem 1884 →] n. the silver-top palmetto, Thrinax argentea: 1788 Among the indigenous palms [are] Great Thatch and Brittle Thatch Palmetto, the leaves of which are used in the roofs of their cabins (Schoepf 308). cf. BRICKLY TOP (Inagua)

See B'.

adj. (of feet) wide. (Exuma)

[cf. OED broad used of a strongly marked dialectal or vulgar pronunciation ... Broad Cockney] phr. to speak a basilectal variety of Bahamian dialect. (Exuma)

[from the resemblance of the leaves to those of the pineapple] n., Obs. the cactuslike pinguin, Bromelia pinguin, related to the pineapple: 1835 (Journal 88). = WILD PINE 2

[cf. DJE broadleaf conch a variety of large conch whose shell opens out with a broad, leaflike appendage; cf. also Scots broad-lipped of a hat: broad-brimmed CSD] n. a variety of conch. cf. THICK-LIP CONCH (Adelaide)

(Black); broaden out (Nassau, Eleu.) [Car.; cf. Sra. bradi to spread WST; cf. OED broad v. obs. → 1399 and the more general tendency of adj. to become stative verbs under the influence of African syntax] v.phr. to spread out: Broaden out this cloth so I could measure it (Nassau).

[OED, to cook (meat) by placing it on the fire, or on a gridiron over it; W3 to cook by direct exposure to radiant heat] v. to braise; to cook on top of the stove in a closed pot with very little water: My sister like broil chicken in the pot, but I like how Mama does bake it (Nassau). (Black)

/brok/ [Atlantic; cf. Scots, Irel. dial. bruck break (Hancock 1971:155), also US dial. ADD] v. to break: 1918 My leg so small he may broke (Parsons 147). De tree bruck open (ibid 4). 1936 Stop from brokin' y' leg. (Dupuch 67). They want broke up everything in there (Ragged). Cf. BREAK (Black)

[cf. Cam. brok-kɔ:n to harvest (corn) CCD; US dial. South breaking corn taking the ear of corn from the stalk (Ayers 1950:74)] v.phr. to pick corn: 1832 Bracking [i.e. breaking] Indian corn (Farquharson 8). I use ta he'p her broke corn too (Cat).

[OED break down v.t. to crush or prostrate in strength, health] adj. phr. exhausted: I come home all broke down and tied (Nassau). (Black)

[OED broken of language: imperfectly spoken, with the syntax incomplete] n. local creolized English, called Bahamian dialect: We Bahamians does speak broken English (Nassau). (Gen.)

[cf. BROKE break; OED break off to start obs. 1591 only] v.phr. to begin suddenly: 1966 He broke off running [i.e. began to run] (Crowley 25). 1940 Dey spin' roun' quick an' broke off runnin' an' dash cross d' border (Dupuch 25). (Gen.)

[cf. BRO brother + MAN, both terms of address] term of address for a male peer: 1966 (Crowley 49). (Black)

n. 1. [OED different sp.] a plant: 1920 Gundlachia corymbosa (Britton 442). 1977 Baccharis dioica (Patterson 120). = HORSE BUSH 3, SOLDIER'S BUSH (Gen.)

2. any bush suitable for use as a broom: You could take a piece of broom bush and sweep with it right so (Nassau).

3. [cf. DAE broom-brush a whisk-broom made from broom corn] a kitchen broom made from the branches of a broom bush. = BUSH BROOM (Mayag., Inagua)

[W3 different sp.] n. a tree, Pera humeliaefolia: 1905 (Shattuck 257). (Mayag.)

[cf. EYES eye] n. a bruised eye: A brown-eyes. = BUST EYE (Mayag.)

(Black); brown flour soup (Nassau, Mayag.) n. a hot drink made by brown-ing flour in a pot, then mixing in sugar and water: You brown the flour and then you put water . . . you could make brown flour tea or the soup (Nassau). = BOUFOO, FLOUR TEA

[from preparation] n. a cigarette hand-rolled in brown wrapping paper. (Gen.)

[W3 racer any of various snakes ... as black racer, blue racer] n. a snake, Alsophis vudii, harmless to humans: 1978 (Campbell 9). = GRASS SNAKE

[cf. W3 red sage, DJE purple sage, both Lantana sp.] n. a shrub (sp?) with grayish leaves and fragrant lavender flowers. (Gen.)

[Atlantic] adj. mulatto; having a light-brown complexion: 1936 I see won 'Merican woman wid her hair all curl up. Right nex' t' her I see Wiln brown skin gal wid her hair all straiten out (Dupuch 47). (Gen.)

[cf. W3 brownnose (from the implication that servility is tantamount to having one's nose in the anus of the person from whom advancement is sought) slang: apple-polish; toady] v.phr. to curry somebody's favor. (Exuma)

/brawn trasha/ (Black); brown thrusher (White) [cf. BLUE THRASHER] n. the mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos: 1910 (Northrop 52). = ENGLISH THRASHER (Gen.)

See BROKE.

See BRIGGADUM.

See BRA

[OED, to pound, crush; to beat small, grind down] v. 1. to mash corn in a mortar for grits. (Mayag.)

2. to make (meat, conch, etc.) tender by beating: 1978 Bruise conch and boil in salt water until tender (Higgs 29). (Gen.)

3. to strike or beat (a person): I gon bruise you! (San Sal.)

4. to chop new sprouts off a stump. (Long, San Sal.)

[cf. BRUISE 2] n. 1. an instrument for making conch tender, usually a foot-long wooden club or a soft-drink bottle. (White)

2. a club for beating the organic sediment out of sponges: 1977 The sponges soaked for several days before the men went into the kraal with bruisers or clubs to get the black gurry out (Albury 67). (Gen.)

See TAR BRUSH.

/bóba/ [Gul. idem (Gonzales 1922:291) or younger brother; cf. Krio bobo little boy (Hancock p.c.); cf. US dial. bub, bubby, bubber brother, used especially in speaking to a small boy, known or unknown ADD; OED bubby "Bartlett and Webster say a corruption of brother, but the word looks more like Ger. bube, bub boy"; probably a reduplication of B' brother] term of address for an older brother: 1936 Well, bubba! Dey tell mull say dey gon had won meetin' tomorrer (Dupuch 65,121). (Gen.)

See BOOBOO.

/bóbi/ [Atlantic; OED obs. or dial. 1725; cf. also Scots bubbies CSD, W3 bobby, booby idem] n. 1. a woman's breasts (considered vulgar). (Gen.)

2. the small black protrusions on conch. = DUG (Gen.)

[OED, a gay dashing fellow ... used also as a form of familiar address ... vulgarly applied to a nego man; cf. SA bok lover, bokkie term of endearment] n. an affectionate term of address. (Crooked)

[from lignum vitae] n. 1. the lignum vitae tree, Guiacum officinale. = LIGDUM VITAE, NIGLUM VITAE (Andros)

2. a tree (sp?) resembling the lignum vitae, but with rougher bark and wood that is not so yellow. (San Sal.)

n. important man: He was one of the buckos in there next to the manager (White)

/bókra/ [Atlantic; US dial. South idem ADD; cf. lbo, Efik mbakára white man; he who surrounds or governs (Turner 1949:191)] n. 1. Obs, a white man: 1888 A gentleman is usually addressed as "Boss" or "Buckra"(Powles 154).

2. a nickname for a light-skinned man (older term). (Gen)

[cf. BUCKRA and DJE backra yam a fine or delicate variety of yam] n. a variety of sweet potato with white skin. (Andros, San Sal., White)

[Atlantic; OED dial. & US (?corruption of butt); possible convergence with Wolof baŋ ke to collide with (Turner 1949:60)] v. 1. to collide with: 1966 He buck up to this rock (Crowley 60). (Gen.)

2. to encounter: 1918 Moder, I buck up to de debil (Parsons 57). Dey buck up wid de sheep (ibid 111). 1966 He buck this big old pumpkin field (Crowley 61). Coming down you buck a white house there with a blue paint (Andros). (Gen.)

◊Buck up can be used with various prepositions.

[cf. BUCK (UP)] n. (of cars, etc.). a collision (Gen.)

all buck-up go: anything goes: 1936 (Dupuch 121). All that buck-up go in this rush (Nassau). (Gen.)

/bod/ [cf. Guy. bud-bud, birdie penis of a small boy (Rickford 1976:8); cf. Common Bantu *-bódò penis (Carter); note also possible calque on bird parallel to Car. Sp. pájaro, Haitian zo-zo (from Fr. oiseau) both 'penis' (lit. bird)] n. penis (child's word). (Inagua, Mayag.)

 [W3, something likened to a bud, esp. in shape] n. an individual clump of hair forming a braid (usually in reference to men's dread locks), especially the part towards the roots after it has grown out and formed a tuft: He got t'ick buds (Nassau).
—v. (of hair) to form such tufts: My hair all bud up (Nassau).

v. [OED, to begin to grow] to begin to develop breasts: She buddin'. cf. SPUDDIN' (POTATOES) (Exuma)

[from BIRD GRASS, BUR GRASS] n. 1. bird grass, Cenchrus echinatus, a grass with burs (older pronunciation). = BIRD GRASS, BUR GRASS (Mayag.)

2. a similar but distinct grass (sp?) whose thin blades have a cutting edge. (Andros, San Sal.)

See BIRD PEPPER

/bófala/ [convergence with the seman-tically unrelated Eng. word seems coincidental; the phonological shape probably derives from an African form such as Yoruba bu moldy DYL or, in reference to its shape, possibly Ewe bofaa or Twi bɔfōō broad, thick (cf. DJE buffo)] n. a fungus (sp?): Buffalo. . . big round bob on top (Andros). = FLY HOUSE

[etym?; cf. TOFFY idem] n. dried coconut. (Andros)

See BOUGAMAN

(Crooked); wheel buggy (Cat) [OED buggy a light one-horse vehicle but cf. DAS Irish (baby) buggy a wheelbarrow] n. a wheelbarrow: 1963 I had also brough a wheel barrow ... "Papa Cottman done fetch a buddy!" (Cottman 81).  

/bil/ v. 1. [W Car.; by passivization] to be built: Dat church buil' in 1936 (Nassau). (Black)

2. [Jam. idem (Cassidy p.c.)] to make (clothes): 1973 Taylors were constantly hounded to "build" pants with one back pocket, and coats that reached to the waist (Missick 34). That tailor build his suit (Long).

Traditionally most DWELVING HOUSES in the Bahamas have been modest. Only wealthy people can afford an UPSTAIRS HOUSE with GABLE-ENDS high enough for a CEILING (acces-sible through a MANHOLE). Such grand houses often have TABBY walls and a BANISTER PORCH (also called a PIAZZA or GALLERY). Many people still live in simple wooden houses, sometimes small CRIBS or SHACK HOUSES. While city people cover their HOUSE-TOPS with SHINGLES or TINS (also called ZINCS), on the outer islands people often live in TRASH HOUSES with roofs of LEAF or THATCH supported by LARTIN. The simplest houses lack wooden floors and are called DIRT HOUSES. Floors are usually elevated a foot or so above the ground, supported by GROUND-PINS. Should such a floor start to sag, it has to be COTCH-UP with a PRY-STICK or WATTLES. The DOOR-MOUTH has to be above the level of the yard in case of flooding. The windows are usually without GLASSES or SCREAM-WIRE, having only shutters that can be fastened with BATTERS in case of a hurricane. Such small houses usually have only a HALL and one or two ROOMS and perhaps a PANTRY. Heavy cooking is still sometimes done in a separate COOK KITCHEN, and if there is no plumbing the back yard includes an OUTSIDE CLOSET (also called a LATRIN Or BACK-HOUSE). Crops might be stored in a LODGING, while the PACKING HOUSE or BARN HOUSE is used for general storage and animals are kept in a STAPLE. Protection from the sun is afforded by a simple PICK HOUSE or SHADE. A group of homes forms a TOWN, and a group of towns forms a SETTLEMENT. Larger settlements may have a TOWNSHIP, with a PARADE consisting of a DOCTOR SHOP, a FOOD STORE, a PETTY SHOP and a GUARD ROOM.

 /bil op/ [W Car.] v.phr. (of weather) to prepare to storm: 1969 One squall buillin' up (Dupuch 11). (Gen.)

phr. to expect too much, thus ensuring disappointment: When you 'spect too much from you chirren, all you doing is building up yourself for broke down (Nassau). (Black)

/ból(a)/ [OED bully dial. brother, companion] n. term of address to an older brother or a respected male peer: 1918 Bul Rabbit . . . But Boukee (Parsons 118). Buller (brother) watch him (ibid 28). 1936 Bulla . . . familiar address meaning 'brother' (Dupuch 121). Bulla Diddy, talk we one joke! (Andros). (Black)

See BOAR CAT.

[cf. BOAR , by hypercorrection] n. a male dog: 1950 In common parlance a jibdog is the female of the species in contrast to the bulldog or male (McCutcheon 317).

n. a shark, Carcharhinus leucas: 1968 (Böke 18). (Gen.)

[cf. US Black bullskating to brag (Major); cf. OEDS II bullshit to bluff, and skite North. dial. cognate of shit (Cassidy p.c.)] v. 1. to bluff: He like to bull-skate too much—the's why I never take him serious (Nassau).

2. to play around roughly. (Black)

n. a plant, Cissus microcarpa or C. intermedia: 1905 (Shattuck 259). cf. BILL VINE (Black) 

[DJE idem squirrelfish; OED dial, name for some kind of fish] n. live TURBOT used as bait in deep-sea fishing. (Andros, Exuma)

[cf. Gul. "net (bullet all aroun')" (Parsons 1923:167) from use of lead shot to weight net?; cf. also OED bully to overweigh (of ships)] n. a fishing net on a round wire frame, often used to catch crawfish or turtle: 1977 The turtle bulley net was cone-shaped somewhat like the crawfish bulley-net , . . referred to as "the bulley" (Albury 16). (Gen.)

—v. to fish with a BULLY NET: Das de way to catch dose fish—you bully dem (Nassau).

n. the circular wire frame which supports the BULLY NET: You hang the bully-rim on the staff (Andros). 

[cf. BOOMBA FLY, influence by bumble, to buzz, as a fly OED] n. an insect (sp?) resembling a gnat which is attracted to sores: 1966 Bumble-fly, come from around my eye (Crowley 93). (Gen)

n. [W3, a swelling of tissue usually resulting from a bump; cf. Brit. colloq. bumps acne] a swelling caused by acne: The girl get plenty bumps on her face, hey? (Nassau). (Gen.)

v. [W3 bump breast] to begin to develop breasts: She bumpin'. (Black)

bump up phr. I. (of peanuts and potatoes) to develop tubers. (Andros)

2. (of plants) to sprout out of the earth: With this little bit of rain, the plants soon gon bump up (Ragged). (Gen.)

/bon/ [cf. Cam. bɔ:n-am to roast CCD, US Black burn to cook food (Major)] v. to fry (not necessarily to excess): When the peas done boil, ya bun ye lard and ya bun ya onion, ya throw the peas back (Crooked).

[Atlantic; BUN + reduplication] n. burnt food on the bottom of the pot (considered a delicacy). = POTCAKE I, SWINGE n. (Mayag.)

[W Car.] n. a banana stem with nine or more HANDS or clusters. (Gen.)

/bondéy/ [etym. uncertain; Crowley (1966:20) suggests Port. bom dia good day, or Fr. bon Dieu the good Lord; S. Norton (p.c.) derives it from one day by /w, v, b/ alternation; the latter is supported by Krio wan de ya KED and Cam. some day been dey (Todd 1979), both 'once upon a time' and Haitian vwala yon jou idem HCEFD; cf. lbo ofu umbosi (lit, one day) once upon a time (Okolo p.c.)] intj. 1. the opening of a folk tale (cf. once upon a time); it is also an exclamation to gain attention during the storytelling and occasionally to conclude it (Crowley 1966:20,73): 1918 Bondee (end) (Parsons 30). (Mayag., Cat)

2. See the quot.: 1974 Bunday occurs frequently in the word games of children of the southern islands. One child utters rhymed phrases which are sharply punctuated by the response of bunday given by the other players. Among playing children, it is used as a term of pique or scorn (Glinton 1974:24). (Cat)

See BOUNGY

See BANNY-SINKLE.

[cf. BUN + wood] n. charcoal. (Black)

/bwohy/ [Car.; cf. Jam. bwai DJE] n. boy, man: Dats da two buoy (Brown 33). cf. BOY (San Sal., Mayag.)

See B'.

[W Car.] n. a plant, Cenchrus echinatus, the sand bur: 1889 (Gardner 361). = BIRD GRASS, BUD GRASS, PRICKLE GRASS (Gen.)

n. [cf. OED, burden, obs. exc. dial → ,1614; Brit. Dial. North, West burn a burden, load, bundle, esp. a load of sticks, straw, etc. EDD; Scots birn load carried on the back CSD] a heavy load in a sack, as of potatoes; a bundle, as of wood. (White)

 n. [by hypercorrection; cf. BUN burn] bun: 1895 Twelve burns (sweet cakes) vw'at vwas in de hoven (Edwards 96). (Mayag.)

 /bo(r)n/ v. [Car.; cf. DJE burn to rub off the skin] 1. to rub off the skin: 1940 De feller who get he skin all burn off. runnin' tru prickly pear patch (Dupuch 64).

2. (of shoes) to pinch: If ya new shoes bunnin bare it data wha ta do (Brown 44). (Gen.)

(Mayag.); burn candle (Black) [cf. DJE bad candle idem; cf. Reunion Cr. Fr. "Le sorcier 'fait brûller des bougies' bril buzi] " (Chaudenson 1974:146); a traditional Yoruba custom (Oyedeji p.c.)] v.phr. (in obeah) to cause a person misfortune by burning a special lamp or candle; as the oil or candle diminishes, so—supposedly—does the victim's well-being.

v. phr. burning off a field to clear it: After burning out the field, you should plant with the next rain (COB).

[W Car.] n. a torch. (Black)

[from one's consumption of energy] v.phr. 1. to become exhausted through physical exertion. (Black)

2. to drop out of a race due to exhaustion. (San Sal.)

/boys/ [ in reference to ejaculation; cf. Krio wata bos 'water bursts': water comes out in a spate, suddenly and unexpectedly KED] v. (of men) to have sexual intercourse; to ejaculate: 1971 Young boys in my teenage years were constantly searching for this woman who would - cause them to "pop their water" or "burst" (to lose their virginity) (McCartney 110). (Black) —n. 1. [cf. BURST v] sexual intercourse: have a burst, catch a burst (youth slang). (Nassau, Exuma)

2. [cf. Jam. /bus/ idem (Cassidy p.c.); cf. DAS bust a failure; to ruin something; to make a mistake] something which does not turn out as well as expected; a disappointment, especially one involving embarrassment or humiliation (youth slang): Da 's a burst! [said after someone had been corrected] (Nassau).

See BUS(T).

/byuwz/ [Atlantic; cf. OED abuse to speak injuriously] v.t. to speak (to someone) loudly and abusively: She buse me. (San Sal., Mayag.)

`busin' /byuwzin/ [Car.] n. an abusive tirade: a strong 'busin'. (Gen.)

n. 1. [Atlantic; OED "(Recent, and probably a direct adoptation of the Dutch bosch in colonies originally Dutch) applied to the uncleared or untilled districts in the British colonies"] forest; scrubland: 1918 He ran rrough de bush (Parsons 10). (Gen.)

2. [Car.] undergrowth: 1966 Let's go cut bush (Crowley 58). (Gen.)

3. [Car.] plants that are not cultivated: 1917 The people, swaying, come to and fro with the valuable logwood and other "bush"in bundles on their heads (Defiles 38). What's that? [pointing to a plant]. Bush. (San Sal.).

4. [Atlantic] medicinal plants: 1869 The sufferer . . . takes some "bush" decoction (Bacot 65). cf. BUSH MEDICINE (Gen.)

5. any plant: 1940 Broccoli an' celery an' all dem funny kine o' foreign bush (Dupuch 36).

(Gen.); go to bush (Andros) [cf. Cam. go bush idem CCD] v.phr. to defecate. (Gen.)

v.phr. (of whites) to have sexual relations with blacks. (Nassau, San Sal.)

/bush baht/ [Car.; cf. BUSH 4] n. a hot bath in infusions made from medicinal herbs. (Gen.)

[cf. Cam. bush-brum raffia broom CCD; US dial. South brush broom a broom made by binding small branches together for sweeping the yard WSC] n. a rake made of branches. (Mayag.)

[Car.; cf. BUSH 4 ; cf. also Haitian dòtkè fey idem HCEFD ] n. 1. a practitioner of herbal remedies. = BUSH MAN (Gen.)

2. a practioner of OBEAH or witchcraft: 1934 The obeah wizard . . . (or) "bush doctor" still survives (Bell 85). (Gen.)

[from measurement] v.phr. to put (crops) into bushel baskets. (Mayag.)

n. sing. or pl. bushel: 1918 One bushels of corn (Parsons 49).

[W Car.] n. a row of prickly plants to separate fields. (Gen.)

[W Car.; cf. BUSH 4] n. 1. an herbalist.

2. an OBEAH MAN. = BUSH DOCTOR (Gen.)

[cf. SA idem, a very rough and ready workman] n. an inexpert tinkerer; an automobile repairman with no mechanical training or talent. (Black).

[Car. cf. BUSH 4] n. herbal remedies; obeah charms: 1966 (Otterbeim 60). (Gen.)

[cf. BUSH 1 and DAE bushwhacker take to the bush] n. a person living in an otherwise uninhabited area. (San Sal.)

n. a land snail, Hemitrochus varians: 1978 (Campbell 90).

Modern DOCTOR MEDICINE was traditionally often difficult to obtain on the more remote Bahamian islands, and it was often prohibitively costly even for those living in and around Nassau. Because of this, people had to rely on the healing properties of native plants in BUSH MEDICINE, a practice that is still widespread despite the advent of the district nurse to replace the traditional BUSH DOCTOR (or BUSH MAN, ROOT DOCTOR, or PROFESSOR OF PLANTS) and GRANNY (or WISE WOMAN).

The commonest way of preparing such medicine is to boil the plant and then drink the resulting BUSH TEA, e.g. CERASEE for coughs, CHICKEN GIZZARD or DILL SEED for diarrhea, etc. Such infusions could also be used for BUSH BATHS, e.g. OBEAH BUSH for aching bones or a mixture of JUMBY, TAMBRAN and GUINEP for influenza. Other plants are applied externally: a poultice of GUM-ELEMI leaves is used for insect stings, and the sap of ALOES (also found in commercial products) is used to soothe skin irritations. The dried flowers of the POUND-CAKE BUSH are sprinkled on sores; the root of JOHN DOCTOR is crushed and used to revive someone who has fainted; the ROCK BUSH is chewed to relieve mouth sores. An infusion of SHEPHERD NEEDLE can be applied externally for sores or prickley heat, or taken internally for nausea. A man worried about LOSING HIS NATURE can drink an infusion of COURAGE BUSH, LOVE VINE or STIFF COCK, usually mixed with rum. Although many such plants are medicinally effective, faith in others is based on folklore on desperation, such as MATCH-ME-IF-YOU-CAN (a leaf of which is worn in one's shoe for colds), CHURCH-YARD ROSE (drunk as an infusion for leukemia), or FOOT GRASS (drunk to protect pregnant women from evil magic). Still, it is hard not to be swayed by such convincing names for plants as STRONG MAN'S WEED, LIVE-FOREVER, or DEAD-MAN-GET-UP, See Higgs 1978.

 [Car.; SA idem; cf. BUSH 4] n. an infusion made from wild herbs, usually medicinal: 1888 What they call bush tea is their sovereign remedy for every malady under the sun (Powles 229). (Gen.)

[from appearance] n. a coarse grass, Andropogon glomeratus: 1920 (Britton 14). = BED GRASS (Nassau)

[Atlantic; DJE "evid. by abbr. of have business"] v. to be usual or appropriate: 1978 Y'ain 't bizness t' bite d' man on he knee-cap. (Dupuch 31). If yuh work ter d' Tribune, y' fingernail bizness t' be full o' ink (ibid). (Gen.)

/bósad/ [cf. OED idem obs.→ 1700's] n. the buzzard or turkey vulture. (Eleu.)

/bos ay/ [cf. Krio bos yay idem KED] n. a bruised or black eye. = BROWN EYE (Black)

/bos ówpn/ adj. wide open (also metaphorical): 1936 a bus' open race (Dupuch 74). (Gen.)

—v. to assault: 1940 He gone so far as to challenge um. He say, "Yinna come, lemmuh bus' yuh open"(Dupuch 34).

/bos awt/ [Gul. idem (Gonzales 1924: 192)] v.phr. to leave suddenly; run off: Them guys when you see them all you do is bus' out (Ragged). 1974 Bus' out! Shut up and get out! (an abusive command) (King 26). (Black)

/bos op/ [cf. Vir. idem (Roy 1974); Krio boses idem KED; also Scots bust to beat CSD, US bust to punch W3] v.phr. to give some-one a beating: You ain' afraid her bust you up?! (Nassau). (Black)

[OED, W3 different sp.] n. a medicinal plant with yellow flowers: 1905 Turnera ulmifolia (Shattuck 207). 1920 Tribulus cistoides (Britton 202). (Gen.)

[cf. DJE butterfly tree (Bauhina sp.) "from the resemblance of their bi-lobed leaves to the half-spread wings of a butterfly"] n. a tree, Bauhinia sp., with large, showy flowers: 1956 (Higgs 30). = ORCHID TREE (Black)

[cf. Krio bota-fo-lad tit for tat KED] phr. like for like: 1925 Tick for tack, butter for fat; You kill my dog, I'll kill your cat (Finlay 294). (Gen.)

n. a fish, Hypoplectrus puella: 1968 (Böhlke 274). (Black)

[hypercorrection of BUCK UP] v.phr. to encounter: 1918 You goin' to butt up again' a lot o' trouble (Parsons 34).

[also Bajan (Collymore 25), Gul. ADD] conj. since: 1966 By you's the man, I'll let you go (Crowley 113). (Black)

-prep. [Car,; OED, at the house of obs. →1712; SA idem] at the house of: She by a neighbor. (Black)

[from use as prep, introducing non-embedded participial phrases; NYC idem (Hunter student essays)] participial phrase marker: By him allowing her to come into his life make him more miserable (COB). By giving a child everything it wants does not make the child love you any more (COB). (Nassau)

/bay(m)bay/ [Atlantic; cf. DJE bambai, Brit. dial. West bamby EDD, US dial. South bimeby WEA] adv. later; in a little while: 1917 By-by the string broke (Cleare 229).

[cf. OED by-talk 1. small talk; 2. obs. → 1579 by-word, pet phrase] n. 1. a piece of information by hearsay: I didn't see it myself. This is just a by-talk (Mayag.)

2. a favorite phrase: 1966 "Aye John Brown" is a by-talk Joshua coulda never do without (Crowley 139).

Traditionally most DWELVING HOUSES in the Bahamas have been modest. Only wealthy people can afford an UPSTAIRS HOUSE with GABLE-ENDS high enough for a CEILING (acces-sible through a MANHOLE). Such grand houses often have TABBY walls and a BANISTER PORCH (also called a PIAZZA or GALLERY). Many people still live in simple wooden houses, sometimes small CRIBS or SHACK HOUSES. While city people cover their HOUSE-TOPS with SHINGLES or TINS (also called ZINCS), on the outer islands people often live in TRASH HOUSES with roofs of LEAF or THATCH supported by LARTIN. The simplest houses lack wooden floors and are called DIRT HOUSES. Floors are usually elevated a foot or so above the ground, supported by GROUND-PINS. Should such a floor start to sag, it has to be COTCH-UP with a PRY-STICK or WATTLES. The DOOR-MOUTH has to be above the level of the yard in case of flooding. The windows are usually without GLASSES or SCREAM-WIRE, having only shutters that can be fastened with BATTERS in case of a hurricane. Such small houses usually have only a HALL and one or two ROOMS and perhaps a PANTRY. Heavy cooking is still sometimes done in a separate COOK KITCHEN, and if there is no plumbing the back yard includes an OUTSIDE CLOSET (also called a LATRIN Or BACK-HOUSE). Crops might be stored in a LODGING, while the PACKING HOUSE or BARN HOUSE is used for general storage and animals are kept in a STAPLE. Protection from the sun is afforded by a simple PICK HOUSE or SHADE. A group of homes forms a TOWN, and a group of towns forms a SETTLEMENT. Larger settlements may have a TOWNSHIP, with a PARADE consisting of a DOCTOR SHOP, a FOOD STORE, a PETTY SHOP and a GUARD ROOM.

Traditionally most DWELVING HOUSES in the Bahamas have been modest. Only wealthy people can afford an UPSTAIRS HOUSE with GABLE-ENDS high enough for a CEILING (acces-sible through a MANHOLE). Such grand houses often have TABBY walls and a BANISTER PORCH (also called a PIAZZA or GALLERY). Many people still live in simple wooden houses, sometimes small CRIBS or SHACK HOUSES. While city people cover their HOUSE-TOPS with SHINGLES or TINS (also called ZINCS), on the outer islands people often live in TRASH HOUSES with roofs of LEAF or THATCH supported by LARTIN. The simplest houses lack wooden floors and are called DIRT HOUSES. Floors are usually elevated a foot or so above the ground, supported by GROUND-PINS. Should such a floor start to sag, it has to be COTCH-UP with a PRY-STICK or WATTLES. The DOOR-MOUTH has to be above the level of the yard in case of flooding. The windows are usually without GLASSES or SCREAM-WIRE, having only shutters that can be fastened with BATTERS in case of a hurricane. Such small houses usually have only a HALL and one or two ROOMS and perhaps a PANTRY. Heavy cooking is still sometimes done in a separate COOK KITCHEN, and if there is no plumbing the back yard includes an OUTSIDE CLOSET (also called a LATRIN Or BACK-HOUSE). Crops might be stored in a LODGING, while the PACKING HOUSE or BARN HOUSE is used for general storage and animals are kept in a STAPLE. Protection from the sun is afforded by a simple PICK HOUSE or SHADE. A group of homes forms a TOWN, and a group of towns forms a SETTLEMENT. Larger settlements may have a TOWNSHIP, with a PARADE consisting of a DOCTOR SHOP, a FOOD STORE, a PETTY SHOP and a GUARD ROOM.