Bayfoot

adjective BAY-foot

Also spelled bare foot, bayfut

Barefoot — going without shoes, 'bay' (bare) plus 'foot'. Once ordinary for country children who ran the district and yard shoeless, it is tied to images of rural childhood, and to the chigga (jigger flea) that burrowed into unprotected feet. Can also imply being poor or unprepared ('bayfoot an ragged').

  • Di pickney dem a run bayfoot inna di yaad.

    The children are running barefoot in the yard.

  • Nuh walk bayfoot, yuh a go ketch chigga.

    Don't walk barefoot — you'll catch a chigger.

'bay' (bare) + 'foot'. See [[chigga]].

Barefoot; historically ordinary for country children, linked to chigga fleas.