Meaning
A bird whose cry, especially at night, is held to foretell death or bad news — the 'jumbie bird' or 'duppy bird'. When its call is heard near a house, folk belief takes it as a warning that someone is going to die. Which bird it is varies by district (often an owl or a nightjar), but the eerie meaning is the same: it is the messenger of the spirit world.
Examples
-
Di jumbie bird call last night — somebody a go dead.
The death bird called last night — someone is going to die.
-
When yuh hear di duppy bird, say a prayer.
When you hear the death bird, say a prayer.
-
Di jumbie bird cry unsettle di whole house.
The death bird's cry unsettled the whole house.
Origin
From 'jumbie' (spirit) + 'bird'; a bird whose cry foretells death. See [[jumbie]], [[patoo]].
How it’s used
A bird whose night-cry foretells death ('duppy bird'). See [[jumbie]], [[patoo]], [[owl-hoot]].