Meaning
A pregnant woman — one carrying a 'belly'. A gentle, everyday word, it names the expectant mother with care and consideration, and a 'belly-woman' is given her seat, her ease, and her due tenderness. To 'have belly' or 'carry belly' is to be pregnant, and a woman 'inna her belly' is expecting a child. Warm and homely, the term belongs to the whole open, communal Jamaican way with pregnancy and children, in which the belly-woman is watched over and helped by all around her as she waits for her time.
Examples
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Gi di belly-woman yuh seat pon di bus.
Give the pregnant woman your seat on the bus.
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She a belly-woman now, tek it easy pon har.
She's pregnant now, go easy on her.
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Di belly-woman due next month.
The pregnant woman is due next month.
Origin
From 'belly' (pregnancy) + 'woman/ooman'; a pregnant woman. See [[ooman]], [[pickney]].
How it’s used
A pregnant woman; 'have/carry belly' = be pregnant. See [[ooman]], [[pickney]], [[babymadda]].