Meaning
Greedy, grasping, and excessively covetous — wanting far more than one needs, often to one's own harm. Quite apart from the English 'craven' (cowardly) or 'craving', the Jamaican word carries a firm moral judgement of gluttony and greed: the 'craven' person grabs at everything, overreaches, and is punished for it, as the proverb warns that 'craven choke puppy'. It sits at the heart of the rich Jamaican vocabulary of greed, condemning the grasping spirit that cannot be satisfied.
Examples
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No badda craven, lef som fi di nex smaddy.
Don't be greedy, leave some for the next person.
Common gentle rebuke at a shared meal.
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Craven choke puppy, dat a wha im get.
Greed chokes the puppy, that's what he deserves.
Shortened proverb: overreaching brings your own downfall.
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Him so craven im tek up two plate a food.
He's so greedy he took two plates of food.
'Him so' with no copula; 'tek up' means grabbed/served himself.
Origin
From English 'craven' (cowardly), but Jamaican usage shifted the sense toward 'craving/greedy', likely blended with 'crave'.
How it’s used
Almost always negative and moralising. The phrase 'craven choke puppy' is proverbial and warns against grasping for too much.