ribald
[ rib-uhld; spelling pronunciation rahy-buhld ]
/ ˈrɪb əld; spelling pronunciation ˈraɪ bəld /
adjective
vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous.
noun
a ribald person.
Origin of ribald
1200–50; Middle English
ribald, ribaud (noun) < Old French
ribau(l)d, equivalent to
rib(er) to be licentious (< Old High German
rīben to copulate, be in heat, literally, rub) +
-au(l)d, -alt < Frankish
*-wald a suffix in personal names, derivative of
*walden to rule; compare parallel development of
-ard
OTHER WORDS FROM ribald
rib·ald·ly, adverbWords nearby ribald
rib steak,
rib-knit,
rib-tickler,
rib-tickling,
riba,
ribald,
ribaldry,
riband,
ribat,
ribavirin,
ribband
Example sentences from the Web for ribald
British Dictionary definitions for ribald
ribald
/ (ˈrɪbəld) /
adjective
coarse, obscene, or licentious, usually in a humorous or mocking way
noun
a ribald person
Derived forms of ribald
ribaldly, adverbWord Origin for ribald
C13: from Old French
ribauld, from
riber to live licentiously, of Germanic origin