duffy
n. countable C2 Proficiency US //ˈdəfi// duffy
n. a ghost or spirit. People in some Caribbean cultures use this word to talk about the soul of a person who has died.
n. a ghost, spirit, or malevolent supernatural entity. Primarily used in Caribbean English, particularly in Jamaica and the Bahamas.
The old house was said to be haunted by a duffy.
Local legends warned children not to wander near the cotton tree at night for fear of encountering a duffy.
The folklore of the region is rich with stories of duffies that guard hidden treasures or seek to settle scores from their previous lives.
Usage
Commonly spelled 'duppy' in modern Jamaican Patois; 'duffy' is a variant spelling found in older texts or specific regional dialects.