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ribald

 - 3 dictionary results

rib⋅ald

  [rib-uhld; spelling pron. rahy-buhld]
Use ribald in a Sentence
–adjective
1. vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous.
–noun
2. a ribald person.
Origin:
1200–50; ME ribald, ribaud (n.) < OF ribau(l)d, equiv. to rib(er) to be licentious (< OHG rīben to copulate, be in heat, lit., rub) + -au(l)d, -alt < Frankish *-wald a suffix in personal names, deriv. of *walden to rule; cf. parallel development of -ard

Related forms:
rib⋅ald⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. indecent, obscene, gross.

Antonyms:
1. pure.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ribald
rib·ald   (rĭb'əld, rī'bôld')   
adj.  Characterized by or indulging in vulgar, lewd humor.
n.  A vulgar, lewdly funny person.

[From Middle English ribaud, ribald person, from Old French, from riber, to be wanton, of Germanic origin; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ribald  (n.)
c.1240, "a rogue, ruffian, rascall, scoundrell, varlet, filthie fellow" [Cotgrave], from O.Fr. ribalt, of uncertain origin, perhaps from riber "be wanton, sleep around," from a Gmc. source (cf. O.H.G. riban "be wanton," lit. "to rub," possibly from the common euphemistic use of "rub" words to mean "have sex"), from P.Gmc. *wribanan, from PIE base *wer- "to turn, bend" (see versus). The adj. is attested from 1500, from the noun. Ribaldry is recorded from c.1300.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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