tiif

Jamaican Creole

Etymology

Derived from English thief.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tiːf/

Noun

tiif (plural tiif dem, quantified tiif)

1. thief, robber
   • 2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 27:44:

     Aal di tiif dem we did niel pan di kraas wid im did kos im out tu.

     And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Verb

tiif

1. to steal
   • 2012, Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment, Edinburgh: DJB, published 2012, →ISBN, Matyu 28:11-13:

     Siem taim dem a go de-so, som a di gyaadi dem go iina di toun go tel di ed priis dem evriting we apm. Afta dat, di ed priis dem miit op wid di elda dem an kuk op wan plan. Dem gi di suoja dem wan uol iip a moni an se tu dem se, “A dis unu fi tel evribadi se, ‘Im falara dem kom iina di nait an kom tiif im badi wen wi weehn a sliip.’

     While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.

Further reading

• tiif at majstro.com
• Larry Chang (2014) Biesik Jumiekan: Introduction to Jamaican Language, Chuu Wod, →ISBN, page 231