ribald English · revision 1301

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹɪb.əld/, /ˈɹaɪ.bɔld/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English ''ribaud'' “rascal”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|fro|ribaut|t=rogue, scoundrel]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''riber'' “to be wanton”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) which is of Germanic origin,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) related to Old High German ''rīban'' “to be wanton”, literally “to rub”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a noun, a rascal or scoundrel (before 1250).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In medieval France and England ''ribalds'' were a class of retainers who did the lowest work in royal households.^(OED 1989) The noun came to mean a dissolute person (1340)^(OED 1989) and from about 1380 one who uses offensive, irreverent language.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The adjective followed about 1500,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and the word now usually describes coarse, lewd humour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1250 – a rascal.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1301 – a base fellow.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1325 – ''ribaldry''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1380 – one who jests irreverently.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1508 – adjective, of speech or writing.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Coarsely or lewdly humorous; [[bawdy]] or vulgar.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who uses vulgar, lewd humour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ribaldly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ribaldry]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House gives ''indecent'', ''obscene'' and ''gross'' as synonyms, and ''pure'' as an antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}