Meaning
The jack — a firm-fleshed reef and coastal fish (the crevalle jack and its relatives) that is a common and popular catch. Fried whole or stewed down, jackfish is a staple of the fisherman's haul and the fish-fry stall, eaten with bammy or festival alongside snapper, doctor fish, and the rest of the day's catch. Solid and tasty, it is one of the everyday eating fish of the Jamaican coast, familiar on the seaside plate and at the roadside fish shop.
Examples
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Di fisherman catch a big jackfish today.
The fisherman caught a big jack today.
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Fry di jackfish crisp wid bammy.
Fry the jack crisp with bammy.
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Jackfish firm an tasty inna di soup.
Jack is firm and tasty in the soup.
Origin
The 'jack' (crevalle jack and related species); a common food fish of Jamaican waters.
How it’s used
A common food fish; fried or stewed. Compare 'snapper', 'doctor fish', 'fish-tea'.