Meaning
A dressmaker or seamstress — the Patois pronunciation of 'dressmaker'. A respected neighbourhood trade, the dressmaker sews and alters clothes, runs up school uniforms, and stitches special-occasion and 'fashion-ova-style' outfits to order, her sewing machine a familiar sound on the street. In the days before ready-made clothes were cheap and everywhere, the local dressmaker was essential, dressing the district for church, weddings, and every big day, and the word names that skilled, valued woman of the community with her needle and thread.
Examples
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Carry di cloth go a di dressmeka.
Take the cloth to the dressmaker.
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Di dressmeka sew mi a nice frock fi di wedding.
The dressmaker sewed me a nice dress for the wedding.
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Every community have a good dressmeka.
Every community has a good dressmaker.
Origin
The Patois pronunciation of 'dressmaker' (final 'r' vocalised to 'a').
How it’s used
A dressmaker/seamstress; a valued local trade. Compare 'higgler', 'teacha' for community roles.