Meaning
The traditional watch kept over the dead — nights of gathering, singing, prayer, and fellowship at the home of the deceased before burial. In Jamaica the wake is bound up with the 'set-up' and the climactic 'nine-night', blending Christian hymn-singing with older African-derived customs meant to send the spirit to rest and comfort the living.
Examples
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Dem keep di wake fi nine night straight.
They kept the wake for nine nights straight.
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Hymn an prayer fill di wake.
Hymns and prayer fill the wake.
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Wi go a di wake fi support di family.
We went to the wake to support the family.
Origin
From English 'wake' (a watch over the dead); in Jamaica merged with African-derived mourning custom. See [[set-up]], [[nine-night]].
How it’s used
The mourning watch over the dead, tied to 'set-up' and 'nine-night'. See [[set-up]], [[nine-night]], [[dead-yard]].