Meaning
A large, round, knitted or crocheted cap — most famously the Rastafari tam, often in the red, gold, and green of Ethiopia, worn to hold and cover a crown of long dreadlocks. Roomy and soft, the tam is bound up with the whole image of Rastafari, tucking the locks up beneath it by day, and it also names a general soft, brimless cap. Worn with pride, it is one of the most recognisable emblems of the faith and of reggae culture the world over.
Examples
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Him tuck him locks inna him tam.
He tucked his locks into his tam.
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She knit a red-gold-green tam.
She knitted a red, gold and green tam.
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Di dread wear him big tam proud.
The Rasta wears his big tam with pride.
Origin
From 'tam-o'-shanter', the Scottish woollen cap; in Jamaica the word settled on the crocheted cap that holds a Rasta's locks.
How it’s used
Strongly associated with Rastafari, whose tams cover and protect the locks. The colours red, gold and green carry Rastafari and Ethiopian meaning.