Drinka

noun DRINK-a ˈdrɪŋka mild

Also spelled drinker, drinkaz

A heavy drinker or drunkard — one who is always at the rum bar and fond of the white rum and the beer. The Patois pronunciation of 'drinker', it names the man (usually) known about the district for his liquor, forever at the shop counter with a glass in hand. Often said with a mix of humour and disapproval, it captures both the affection and the head-shaking a community feels for its familiar hard drinkers, the men whose weakness for the bottle is an open, well-worn joke and worry.

  • Him a big drinka, always a di rum bar.

    He's a heavy drinker, always at the rum bar.

  • Di ole drinka cyaa walk straight.

    The old drunkard can't walk straight.

  • She nah deal wid no drinka.

    She won't deal with a drunkard.

The Patois pronunciation of 'drinker' (final 'r' vocalised); a heavy drinker/drunkard.

A heavy drinker/drunkard. Compare 'rum head', 'rum bar'.