Meaning
The sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) — a low, prickly creeping weed whose fern-like leaves fold up and droop the instant they are touched, as if shrinking away in shyness. Children delight in touching it to watch it 'shame'. The bashful name captures exactly this: a lady too shy to be touched. Also 'shame-o-lady' or 'sensitive plant'.
Examples
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Touch di shame-mi-lady an watch it close up.
Touch the sensitive plant and watch it close up.
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Di shame-mi-lady have likkle prickle.
The sensitive plant has little thorns.
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Pickney love play wid shame-mi-lady.
Children love to play with the sensitive plant.
Origin
A Jamaican folk name for Mimosa pudica, from its shy, touch-shrinking leaves. See [[duppy-gun]].
How it’s used
The touch-shy sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica); folds when touched. See [[duppy-gun]], [[donkey-eye]].