Meaning
A thin, whippy rod cut from a tamarind tree, kept for beating children as punishment — the most notorious instrument of old-time Jamaican home discipline. The tamarind switch is prized (and feared) because its supple, springy branches sting sharply. 'Mi wi cut a tamarind switch fi yuh' was a dreaded threat in many a household.
Examples
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Behave, or mi cut a tamarind switch fi yuh.
Behave, or I'll cut a tamarind switch for you.
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Di tamarind switch sting worse dan di strap.
The tamarind switch stings worse than the strap.
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Granny keep a tamarind switch behind di door.
Grandma kept a tamarind switch behind the door.
Origin
A switch cut from the tamarind ('tambran') tree; a classic discipline rod. See [[tambran]], [[supple-jack]].
How it’s used
A whippy tamarind-tree rod for beating children; feared home-discipline tool. See [[tambran]], [[supple-jack]], [[strap]].