Meaning
A derogatory dancehall term for a woman judged promiscuous or low-class — a slur used to shame and demean. It brands a woman as loose, cheap, or of no standing, and it is an insult rather than a neutral description, carrying real contempt. Belonging to the harsh side of dancehall's talk about women, it is thrown to put a woman down, and, like much such slang, it reflects and reinforces a double standard that judges women harshly for what men are praised for.
Examples
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It get thrown as a harsh insult.
It gets thrown as a harsh insult.
Used to demean, not describe neutrally.
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Dat word disrespect women, nuh use it.
That word disrespects women, don't use it.
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Di song get criticise fi calling woman sketel.
The song was criticised for calling women 'sketel'.
Origin
A dancehall coinage of uncertain origin, used from the 1990s as an insult aimed at women.
How it’s used
An offensive, demeaning slur against women. Listed and labelled here so the reference is complete and its offensiveness is clear — not to endorse its use.