Meaning
The blessing said over food before a meal — thanking God for the food and asking a blessing on it. 'Meat' here means food in general (an old sense), so 'grace before meat' is the mealtime grace. In a churchgoing household children are taught to bow their heads and 'say grace' before eating, and to give thanks for the provision.
Examples
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Bow yuh head an say grace before yuh eat.
Bow your head and say grace before you eat.
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Granny always say grace before meat.
Grandma always says grace before the meal.
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Di pickney learn fi give thanks fi di food.
The children learn to give thanks for the food.
Origin
From 'grace' (a blessing) + 'meat' (food, older sense); the mealtime blessing. See [[devotion]], [[nyammings]].
How it’s used
The mealtime blessing ('say grace'); 'meat' = food generally. See [[devotion]], [[nyammings]].