Meaning
Manners — courtesy and respect, prized deeply in Jamaican upbringing. A child is raised to 'have manners': to greet elders, say howdy and thanks, and not be fass. To 'put manners pon' someone is to discipline them into proper conduct. The proverb reminds that 'howdy an tenky bruk no square' — courtesy costs nothing and offends no one.
Examples
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Di pickney have good manners.
The child has good manners.
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Somebody need fi put manners pon him.
Somebody needs to teach him some manners.
Origin
From English 'manners'. See [[howdy-an-tenky-bruk-no-square]], [[tenky]].
How it’s used
Courtesy/respect; 'put manners pon' = to discipline.