Meaning
One of the most feared duppies (ghosts) in Jamaican folklore — a monstrous spirit in the shape of a calf, with fire-red eyes and a clanking chain, that roams the roads at night breathing fire and chasing travellers. Said to be the restless spirit of a wicked person, especially a dishonest butcher or obeah man.
Examples
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Granny warn wi nuh walk di lonely road late, rolling calf deh bout.
Granny warned us not to walk the lonely road late, the rolling calf is about.
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Dem seh yuh drop a knife fi stop a rolling calf.
They say you drop a knife to stop a rolling calf.
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Di clanking chain a di rolling calf frighten everybody.
The clanking chain of the rolling calf frightened everyone.
Origin
A duppy of Jamaican folk belief; the fiery-eyed, chain-dragging calf is said to be the spirit of the wicked, and various charms (dropping a knife, counting) are believed to ward it off. See [[duppy]].
How it’s used
A staple of Jamaican ghost lore, used to frighten and to explain night-time dangers.