Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
balmyard. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
balmyard, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
balmyard in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
balmyard you have here. The definition of the word
balmyard will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
balmyard, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Compound of balm + yard. Borrowed from Jamaican Creole balmyard.
Noun
balmyard (plural balmyards)
- (Jamaica) A place where obeah and related healing rituals are performed.
Jamaican Creole
Etymology
balm + yard
Pronunciation
Noun
balmyard (plural balmyard dem, quantified balmyard)
- A place where obeah and pocomania rituals are practised.
Mi a go carry him go a balm yard! For there is healing in the balm yaad.- I'm going to take him to the balmyard! Because there's healing in the balm yard.
1957, Michael Garfield Smith, Gerardus Johannes Kruijer, A Sociological Manual for Extension Workers in the Caribbean (in English), page 71:“This healing is in many cases linked up with obeah, for if it is true that a man gets ill because a duppy has been set on him, then the obeahman or the 'balmyard' healer and not the doctor is the right person to give advice. This kind of healing ...”
References