Meaning
A reef fish caught and eaten in Jamaica — the 'old wife', a deep-bodied, tough-skinned fish (a triggerfish) whose firm white flesh is well liked fried or in a stew, though its hide has to be worked off first. One of the many named fish the seaside fish shop sells, the old wife is a familiar catch, and its odd name is part of the colourful, homely way Jamaicans name the creatures of the reef.
Examples
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Fry a old wife wid bammy.
Fry an old wife fish with bammy.
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Old wife skin tough, yuh haffi peel it.
Old wife skin is tough; you have to peel it.
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Di fisherman bring in some old wife.
The fisherman brought in some old wife fish.
Origin
A Jamaican/Caribbean fish name, 'old wife' (a triggerfish). See [[yellowtail]], [[goat-fish]].
How it’s used
A tough-skinned reef fish (triggerfish) eaten fried or stewed. See [[yellowtail]], [[goat-fish]].