Etymology Jamaica, circa 18th century. From Bube dupe (“ghost”) (compare Akan adɔpe).
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Caribbean, Jamaica A ghost or spirit, often appearing in the form of a dog barking or howling through the night.
They firmly believe in the apparition of spectres. Those of deceased friends are duppies; others, of more hostile and tremendous aspect, like our raw-head-and-bloody-bones, are called bugaboos.1774, Edward Long, The History of Jamaica, volume 2, page 416:
No man walked alone for fear of the duppies under the trees, or the rolling calf, the ghastly animal that comes rolling towards you along the ground, its legs in chains and flames coming out of its nostrils.1954, Ian Fleming, “The Undertaker's Wind”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 186:
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Then on the left me see a duppy and try to run.2014, Marlon James, A Brief History of Seven Killings, Oneworld Publications (2015), page 257:
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GamesJamaica A drawn game of noughts and crosses (in Jamaica tii-taa-tuo).
2008, Kingsley Ogundele, online message quoted in 2010 January 27, Rob Sharp, "CSI: Chatroom", The Independent He refers to his intention to kill a schoolgirl pregnant with Jolie's unborn baby – who the pair believe is giving Jolie undue hassle. "I'll get da fiend to duppy her den," he writes.
He duppied my bredren and as long as I could remember Paps was telling me not to trust the Feds.2011, Alex Wheatle, The Dirty South, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 176: