Meaning
An idiot — a foolish, senseless person; the Patois pronunciation of 'idiot'. It is common as a plain insult ('yuh eediat!') and in phrases like 'eediat ting' (a stupid thing) and 'eediat behaviour' (foolish carrying-on). Blunt and everyday, it condemns folly, stupidity, and senseless conduct, and it can be flung in real anger or tossed off in exasperation, sitting with 'chupid', 'dunce-head', and 'yamhead' in the well-stocked Jamaican vocabulary for calling out foolishness.
Examples
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Stop di eediat behaviour an tek life serious.
Stop the foolish behaviour and take life seriously.
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Him look like a real eediat inna dat.
He looks like a real idiot in that.
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A pure eediat ting dem a deal wid.
It's pure foolishness they're dealing with.
Origin
The Patois pronunciation of English 'idiot', with the vowels reshaped to 'ee-di-at'.
How it’s used
A common insult; 'eediat ting' and 'eediat behaviour' are frequent set phrases.