duppy

plural duppies · alternative duffy · alternative duppie · alternative doopy · alternative dupie

1. CaribbeanJamaicaA ghost or spirit, often appearing in the form of a dog barking or howling through the night.

   Then on the left me see a duppy and try to run.

   2014, Marlon James, A Brief History of Seven Killings, Oneworld Publications (2015), page 257

   2 more examples

   They firmly believe in the apparition of spectres. Those of deceased friends are duppies; others, of more hostile and tremendous aspect, like our raw-head-and-bloody-bones, are called bugaboos.

   1774, Edward Long, The History of Jamaica, volume 2, page 416

   No man walked alone for fear of the duppies under the trees, or the rolling calf, the ghastly animal that comes rolling towards you along the ground, its legs in chains and flames coming out of its nostrils.

   1954, Ian Fleming, “The Undertaker's Wind”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 186

   Synonyms: jumbie

2. JamaicagamesA drawn game of noughts and crosses (in Jamaica tii-taa-tuo).

present singular third person duppies · participle present duppying · participle past duppied · past duppied · alternative duffy · alternative duppie · alternative doopy · alternative dupie

1. Multicultural London EnglishtransitiveTo kill; to murder.

   2008, Kingsley Ogundele, online message quoted in 2010 January 27, Rob Sharp, "CSI: Chatroom", The Independent He refers to his intention to kill a schoolgirl pregnant with Jolie's unborn baby – who the pair believe is giving Jolie undue hassle. "I'll get da fiend to duppy her den," he writes.

   1 more example

   He duppied my bredren and as long as I could remember Paps was telling me not to trust the Feds.

   2011, Alex Wheatle, The Dirty South, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 176

   Synonyms: annihilate, bag, baptize, bereave of life, blight, bring down, bump off, bury

2. Multicultural London EnglishbroadlytransitiveTo excel in.

   2011, Kano, guest on Lethal Bizzle, "Pow 2011" I duppied every rave.