The name of a large West Indian island. Used attrib. in the names of things native to or imported from that island, as Jamaica bark, bilberry, birch, buckthorn, cherry, ebony, fan-palm. Also Jamaica pepper, a name of ALLSPICE; Jamaica rum, often called simply Jamaica; Jamaica wood = BRAZILETTO.
1756. P. Browne, Jamaica, 299. *Jamaica Ebony (Brya Ebenus). This shrubby tree is common in all the lower hills.
1777. G. Forster, Voy. round World, I. 586. On both sides the ground was covered with a thin perennial *Jamaica-grass.
1660. Hickeringill, Jamaica (1661), 12. A kind of Pepper, that tastes like Cloves, and very Aromatick (known by the name of *Iamaica-Pepper).
1775. Adair, Amer. Ind., 339. A large dose of old *Jamaica [rum] and qualified mercury.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xvii. I’d bet a gill of old Jamaica … that I know.
1656. Cromwell’s Bk. Rates, Woods, Brazeletto or *Jamaica wood.
1789. Act 27 Geo. III., c. 13 Sched. s.v. Wood, Brazilletto or Jamaica Wood for Dyers use.
