Meaning
A sweet or candy — the everyday word for the boiled sweets, mints, and hard candies sold at the shop, and for the treat pressed into a child's hand by a doting auntie or granny. 'Buy a sweetie' is a small joy of childhood, and the sweetie jar on the shop counter a place of longing for every child. The word is also used affectionately as a pet name for a loved one, like 'sweetheart', so it runs from the candy in the jar to the dear one held close, both sharing the plain, fond sense of sweetness.
Examples
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Granny gi di pickney a sweetie.
Granny gave the child a sweet.
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Buy a bag a sweetie from Mr Chin.
Buy a bag of sweets from Mr Chin.
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Come here, mi sweetie.
Come here, my sweetheart.
Origin
From 'sweet' plus '-ie'; the everyday word for candy, and an endearment.
How it’s used
Means candy/sweets; also an endearment. Compare 'honey', 'boonoonoonoos'.