Meaning
A dragonfly — the darting, long-bodied insect with gauzy wings seen hovering and skimming near rivers, ponds, and damp ground. The old name, carried from French through the Caribbean, survives in country and older speech, though many Jamaicans now simply say 'dragonfly' or 'needle-case'. A familiar sight of the countryside, the batimamselle belongs to the store of colourful traditional creature-names that map the rich world of the island's bush and water.
Examples
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Di batimamselle a hover ova di water.
The dragonfly is hovering over the water.
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Wi use to chase batimamselle a river.
We used to chase dragonflies at the river.
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A big batimamselle fly inna di house.
A big dragonfly flew into the house.
Origin
From the French 'bête à mademoiselle' (young lady's creature), a legacy of French influence in the Caribbean, reshaped by Jamaican pronunciation.
How it’s used
An older, rural word. Its French roots make it a nice example of the Caribbean's layered language history.