| ribald | (n) a ribald person; someone who uses vulgar and offensive language |
| ribaldry | (n) ribald humor |
| Ribald | a. Low; base; mean; filthy; obscene. [ 1913 Webster ] The busy day, |
| Ribald | n. [ OE. ribald, ribaud, F. ribaud, OF. ribald, ribault, LL. ribaldus, of German origin; cf. OHG hrīpa prostitute. For the ending -ald cf. E. Herald. ] A low, vulgar, brutal, foul-mouthed wretch; a lewd fellow. Spenser. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ] Ribald was almost a class name in the feudal system . . . He was his patron's parasite, bulldog, and tool . . . It is not to be wondered at that the word rapidly became a synonym for everything ruffianly and brutal. Earle. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Ribaldish | a. Like a ribald. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Ribaldrous | a. Of a ribald quality. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Ribaldry | n. [ OE. ribaldrie, ribaudrie, OF. ribalderie, ribauderie. ] The talk of a ribald; low, vulgar language; indecency; obscenity; lewdness; -- now chiefly applied to indecent language, but formerly, as by Chaucer, also to indecent acts or conduct. [ 1913 Webster ] The ribaldry of his conversation moved &unr_;stonishment even in that age. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ] |