Meaning
A house gecko — the small, pale, soft-bodied lizard that clings to the walls and ceilings indoors and makes a distinctive croaking or chirping call at night. Harmless, indeed useful, since it eats mosquitoes and other insects, the croaking lizard is nonetheless much feared by many Jamaicans, who dread above all its dropping onto them from the ceiling. A familiar creature of the Jamaican house after dark, it figures in childhood frights and folk unease as much as in the everyday hum of the tropical night.
Examples
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A croaking lizard pon di ceiling a chirp all night.
A house gecko on the ceiling is chirping all night.
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She bawl out wen di croaking lizard drop pon har.
She screamed when the gecko dropped on her.
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Croaking lizard eat up di mosquito dem.
The house gecko eats up the mosquitoes.
Origin
Named for its croaking night-time call; the common indoor house gecko of Jamaica.
How it’s used
Harmless and useful (eats insects) but widely feared. Distinct from the outdoor 'green lizard'.