General
puss
What does puss mean?
A cat; features in proverbs like 'when puss nah deh, rat tek charge'.
"Di puss curl up pon di verandah."
Origin
Jamaican Patois, from English 'puss(y)cat'.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'puss' mean in Jamaican Patois?
It simply means a cat.
What is the Jamaican 'puss' proverb?
'When puss nah deh, rat tek charge' means when the cat is away, the mice will play — the powerless take over when authority is absent.
Where does 'puss' come from?
It comes from the English 'puss' or 'pussycat', kept in Patois as the everyday word for a cat.
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