Oxford Dictionary adds Caribbean and Bermudian slang to its official list

The Oxford English Dictionary announced on Wednesday that it has added over a dozen words from Bermuda and the Caribbean to its core entries. The first new term is “bimpert,” a Bermudian insult for a foolish or useless person, often heard in the phrase “a bimpert is justah wuffless bye.” The dictionary also includes “hornerman,” a Trinidad and Tobago word dating back to 1975 for a man who cheats on a partner. Leonard Alexander, who runs a grocery shop in Trinidad, laughed at the addition, explaining that “horn” means unfaithful and the world now knows the label for such a man. Other Caribbean expressions listed are “to get on,” meaning to have an angry outburst, and “to cut someone’s tail,” a way of saying to beat someone up. A woman facing the fallout might need “vex money,” a stash kept for emergencies. Dark folklore terms entered as well: “jablesse,” a malevolent shape‑shifting spirit derived from the French “diablesse,” and “douen,” a short‑statured child spirit with backward feet that lures children, a variant of the Spanish “duende.” Avionne George, a maintenance technician, said the official recognition helps younger people learn about words like “douen” and “la jablesse.” Food‑related entries include “shadeesh” for chorizo in Bermuda, “sugar cake,” a coconut‑based dessert, and “peanut punch,” a rich drink made with peanuts, milk, sugar and spices. The list also adds “Trinbagonian,” describing people from Trinidad and Tobago, and “canboulay,” a term linked to 1800s Carnival celebrations that marked slave emancipation. Sherwin Williams, a construction worker, noted the new words will let the world recognize Trinidadian slang. The OED now holds about 500,000 words, some tracing back to the 11th century. Associated Press reporter Anselm Gibbs contributed from Port‑of‑Spain.