Meaning
A vulgar Jamaican word with two linked uses: a crude term for the backside, and a strong exclamation or intensifier of anger, shock or emphasis. It is the root of the harsher '-claat' curse words. Offensive in polite, formal or family settings.
Senses
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interjection A vulgar exclamation of anger, frustration or surprise — roughly 'damn!'.
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Raas! Mi miss di bus.
Damn! I missed the bus.
An exclamation of frustration; vulgar.
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noun A crude term for the backside or arse.
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Move yuh raas.
Move yourself. (crude)
Rude and confrontational.
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adjective An intensifier adding force to a statement, like 'bloody' or 'damn'.
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Every raas ting a go wrong.
Every single thing is going wrong.
Emphatic and vulgar.
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Origin
From English 'arse', reshaped in Jamaican to 'raas'. It became the base of the curse family 'raasclaat', 'bloodclaat' and the like.
How it’s used
Vulgar and taboo in respectable settings. The word 'raatid' is the softened, acceptable stand-in for it. Documented here as part of a complete language reference.