Friday, September 2, 2011

Ribald

Ribald \ RIB-uhld\ or \RAHY-buhld\ , adjective;
1. Vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous
noun;
1. A ribald person

The noun version of this word dates to the mid-13th century as "a rogue, rascal, scoundrel, varlet, filthy fellow" from Old French ribalt. Its origins are uncertain, but it may be related riber ("be wanton, sleep around") from Proto-Germanic *wribanan, which derives from the Proto-Indo-European base *wer- ("to turn, bend"). The adjective version is first attested in the 1500's.

No comments:

Post a Comment