Meaning
The large, soft, crocheted or knitted cap Rastas wear to hold their dreadlocks — usually in the red, gold, and green of the Rasta and Ethiopian colours, sometimes with black. The Rasta tam gathers the locks up neatly under it and is one of the most recognisable emblems of Rastafari worldwide, worn with pride as a crown of the faith.
Examples
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Him tuck him locks up inna him rasta tam.
He tucks his dreadlocks up under his Rasta tam.
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Di rasta tam red, gold, an green.
The Rasta tam is red, gold, and green.
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She knit a big tam fi him locks.
She knitted a big cap for his dreadlocks.
Origin
From 'Rasta' + 'tam' (a soft round cap, from 'tam o' shanter'); the lock-holding Rasta cap. See [[tam]], [[locks]].
How it’s used
The big knitted cap Rastas wear to hold their locks, in red/gold/green. See [[tam]], [[locks]].