Meaning
The Jamaican boa — the island's largest native snake, yellowish with dark markings, also called 'nanka'. Non-venomous and harmless to people, it kills rats and other prey by constriction and was once valued for keeping vermin down. Much feared in folklore despite being no danger, and now a protected, endangered species.
Examples
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Dem see a big yellow snake inna di ruinate.
They saw a big yellow snake in the overgrown land.
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Di nanka nuh poison, it kill rat.
The Jamaican boa isn't venomous; it kills rats.
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Country people fraid a di yellow snake.
Country people are afraid of the yellow snake.
Origin
'Nanka' is of African origin; the Jamaican boa (Chilabothrus subflavus). See [[mongoose]].
How it’s used
The harmless Jamaican boa ('nanka'), largest native snake; feared in folklore, now protected. See [[galliwasp]], [[mongoose]].