Labrish
Also spelled: labbrish, labrich
Meaning
Idle chatter, gossip, or lively casual talk about other people's business; can also be used as a verb for the act of gossiping. Warmer and more communal than English 'gossip', which usually carries only a negative sense.
Examples
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“Di ooman dem sidong pon di verandah a labrish all evenin.”
The women sat on the verandah gossiping all evening.
'a labrish' shows the word acting as a verb with the continuous 'a'.
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“Mi nuh have no time fi yuh labrish today.”
I have no time for your gossip today.
'nuh have no' is a standard Patois double negative for emphasis.
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“Come mek wi have a lickle labrish before yuh gwaan.”
Come let's have a little chat before you go.
Shows the friendly, non-malicious sense of a casual catch-up.
Origin
Likely from English dialectal 'lab' (to blab or chatter) with a suffix; the exact derivation is uncertain but tied to words for loose talking.
How it's used
Everyday and affectionate as often as critical. Louise Bennett titled a famous poetry collection 'Aunty Roachy Seh' full of labrish, cementing its literary respectability. Context and tone decide whether it is teasing or accusatory.