Patty
Also spelled: Paty, Patti
Meaning
A savoury baked pastry with a flaky, turmeric-tinted crust folded around a seasoned filling, most classically spiced ground beef. It differs from the English or American 'patty' (a flat disc of meat) in that the Jamaican version is a self-contained hand pie eaten as a meal or snack on its own.
Examples
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“Mi waan two beef patty an a cocoa bread.”
I want two beef patties and a coco bread.
Patty is very commonly eaten inside coco bread as a filling sandwich.
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“Di patty dem hat, straight outa di oven.”
The patties are hot, straight out of the oven.
'Dem' pluralises 'patty'; note no copula before the adjective 'hat' (hot).
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“A chicken patty mi a nyam today, not di beef one.”
It's a chicken patty I'm eating today, not the beef one.
Fronting with 'a' focuses 'chicken patty'; 'a nyam' is the continuous marker plus 'eat'.
Origin
From the English 'patty', ultimately from French 'pâté'. The Jamaican form developed its own identity, likely influenced by Cornish pasty traditions brought by British settlers and adapted with local spices.
How it's used
An everyday staple sold at bakeries, shops and chains like Tastee and Juici. Abroad, ordering a 'patty' may confuse North Americans who expect a burger, so specify 'Jamaican patty'.