Meaning
A wake — the nightly gathering of family and community at the home of the deceased in the days before burial, part of the traditional mourning that culminates in the 'nine-night'. Mourners keep company through the night with singing (especially hymns and 'sankeys'), Bible reading, storytelling, dominoes, food, coffee, and white rum, so the bereaved are never left alone.
Examples
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Wi a go a di set-up tonight fi sing an keep company.
We're going to the wake tonight to sing and keep company.
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Coffee, rum, an domino run di whole set-up.
Coffee, rum, and dominoes carry the whole wake.
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Every night till di funeral dem have set-up.
Every night until the funeral they hold a wake.
Origin
From 'sitting up' (staying awake through the night) with the deceased's family; part of the mourning cycle. See [[nine-night]], [[dead-yard]].
How it’s used
A pre-burial wake of nightly company, hymns, food, and dominoes; leads up to the nine-night. See [[nine-night]], [[dead-yard]], [[wake]].