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limerick

The definition of a limerick is a humorous rhyming poem that is usually around five lines in length and that often contains a bawdy story or joke.

(noun)

An example of a limerick is a short five-line poem such as: There once was a man from Nantucket / Who kept all his cash in a bucket. / But his daughter, named Nan, / Ran away with a man. / And as for the bucket, Nantucket.

See limerick in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a nonsense poem of five anapestic lines, now often bawdy, usually with the rhyme scheme aabba, the first, second, and fifth lines having three stresses, the third and fourth having two: the form was popularized by Edward Lear (Ex.: There was a young lady named Harris, / Whom nothing could ever embarrass / Till the bath salts one day / In the tub where she lay / Turned out to be plaster of Paris)

Origin: prob. < Ir refrain containing the name

county in SW Ireland, in Munster province: 1,037 sq mi (2,686 sq km); pop. 110,000
its county seat: pop. 75,000

See limerick in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A light humorous, nonsensical, or bawdy verse of five anapestic lines usually with the rhyme scheme aabba.

Origin:

Origin: After Limerick

A borough of southwest Ireland on the Shannon River estuary. It was an important Norse settlement in the 9th and 10th centuries and was taken by the English in the late 12th century. The city is noted for its fine lace. Population: 52,500.

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