Meaning
Precocious and forward — used above all of a child, especially a boy, who acts too grown, too bold, or too knowing for his age. A 'mannish' pickney behaves like a grown man: fresh, over-familiar, meddling in adults' affairs, or making eyes and talk beyond his years. The word carries a note of disapproval and warning, since in the Jamaican way of raising children such forwardness is to be checked, and a mannish child is one who needs putting back in a child's place.
Examples
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Dat pickney too mannish, a chat big people business.
That child is too forward, talking about grown folks' business.
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Nuh get mannish wid mi.
Don't get too forward with me.
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Him mannish fi him age.
He's precocious for his age.
Origin
From English 'mannish' (like a man), narrowed in Jamaican to a child who acts grown beyond his years.
How it’s used
Usually critical, marking a child as too bold or forward. Distinct from 'mannish water' (a goat soup), which is unrelated.