Meaning
A Rasta who wears dreadlocks — a locksman, especially a serious, deeply committed one. Playing on the 'knot' of matted locks and the word 'dread', a 'dreadnut' is one whose faith is knotted tight; sometimes said teasingly of a hardcore or eccentric dread.
Examples
-
Di ole dreadnut live up inna di hills.
The old dread lives up in the hills.
-
Him turn dreadnut an give up di worldly ways.
He became a locksman and gave up worldly ways.
-
Respect di dreadnut dem an dem livity.
Respect the dreads and their way of life.
Origin
A play on 'dread' (dreadlocks/Rasta) and 'knot' (the matted locks) — a locksman. Compare 'natty dread', 'baldhead' (its opposite).
How it’s used
A dreadlocked Rasta/locksman, sometimes teasing. Compare 'dread', 'natty', 'baldhead'.