ribald

Alternative forms

• ribauld (rare)

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French ribaud, ribauld (“rogue, scoundrel”) ( > French ribaud), from riber (“to be licentious”), from Frankish *rīben (“to copulate, be in heat”, literally “to rub”), from Proto-Germanic *wrībaną (“to turn, twist”), from Proto-Indo-European *werp-, *werb- (“to turn, twist”) + Old French -aud, from Old Frankish *-wald. Cognate with Old High German rīban (“to rub”), Dutch wrijven (“to rub”). Compare also Old High German hrība (“prostitute”). More at wrap.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɪb.əld/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɹɪb.əld/, /ˈɹaɪ.bɔld/

Adjective

ribald (comparative more ribald, superlative most ribald)

1. Coarsely, vulgarly, or lewdly amusing; referring to sexual matters in a rude or irreverent way.
   • 1693, Thomas Urquhart and Peter Anthony Motteux (Trans.), François Rabelais' Gargantua an Pantagruel, The Third Book, Chapter XXVII:

     [L]et no zealous Christian trust the rogue,—the filthy ribald rascal is a liar.

   • 1875, May 15, Anonymous, "Mr. Carl Schurz and the Democratic Party", Harper's Weekly:

     But when he died the "Reform Democracy" instinctively returned to its vomit of ribald insult.

   • 1888, Ambrose Pierce, "A Fruitless Assignment", Can Such Things Be? (Pub. 1893):^[1]

     [T]he curious crowd had collected in the street […] , with here and there a scoffer uttering his incredulity and courage with scornful remarks or ribald cries.

   • 2016 February 23, Robbie Collin, “Grimsby review: ' Sacha Baron Cohen's vital, venomous action movie'”, in The Daily Telegraph (London):

     Baron Cohen turns his attentions back towards England, satirising the Establishment’s contempt for what Nobby himself proudly calls “scum” with ribald and corrosive glee.

Noun

ribald (plural ribalds)

1. An individual who is filthy or vulgar in nature.
   • 1483 [1900 edition], William Caxton (Trans.), Jacobus de Voragine, "Life of S. Paul the first Hermit", The Golden Legend:

     After, he made an harlot, a ribald, come to him alone for to touch his members and his body, to move to lechery.

References

Further reading

• Ribald in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.

Anagrams

• bridal, labrid