Cuss-cuss

noun KUS-kus ˈkʌskʌs mild

Also spelled cuss cuss, kus-kus

A quarrel or exchange of curses — a noisy row where both sides trade insults back and forth. The reduplication of 'cuss' captures the to-and-fro of the argument. A 'cuss-cuss' can flare up between neighbours, family, or friends over something small and blow over just as quickly.

  • A big cuss-cuss gwaan a di gate dis maanin.

    A big quarrel happened at the gate this morning.

  • Dem have a cuss-cuss but mek up back.

    They had a row but made up again.

  • Mi nuh want nuh cuss-cuss ova dat.

    I don't want any quarrel over that.

Reduplication of 'cuss' (curse), a common Patois device conveying repeated back-and-forth action. See [[tracing]].

A quarrel/row of traded curses; reduplication shows the back-and-forth. See [[tracing]], [[labrish]].