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ribald

Pronunciation: /ˈɹɪb.əld/

The English word “ribald” has 2 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Coarsely, vulgarly, or lewdly amusing; referring to sexual matters in a rude or irreverent way.

noun

  1. A person who is filthy or vulgar in nature.

Etymology

From Middle English ribald, from Old French ribaud, ribauld (“rogue, scoundrel”) ( > English ribaud), from Old French riber (“to be licentious”), from Frankish *rīban (“to copulate, be in heat”, literally “to rub”), from Proto-Germanic *wrībaną (“to turn, twist, writhe”), from Proto-Indo-European *werp-, *werb- (“to turn, twist”) + Old French -aud, from Frankish *-wald. Related to Old High German…

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