Ribald Definition
Coarsely, vulgarly, or lewdly amusing; referring to sexual matters in a rude or irreverent way.
Other Word Forms of Ribald
Noun
Origin of Ribald
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From Middle English, from Old French ribaud, ribauld (“rogue, scoundrel") (> French ribaud), from riber (“to be licentious"), from Frankish *rÄ«ben (“to copulate, be in heat", literally “to rub"), from Proto-Germanic *wrÄ«banÄ… (“to turn, twist"), from Proto-Indo-European *werp-, *werb- (“to turn, twist") + Old French -auld, from Old Frankish *-wald. Cognate with Old High German rÄ«ban (“to rub"), Dutch wrijven (“to rub"). Compare also Old High German hrÄ«ba (“prostitute"). More at wrap.
From Wiktionary
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From Middle English ribaud ribald person from Old French from riber to be wanton from Middle High German rīban to rub, be in heat, copulate from Old High German wer-2 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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