ribald

Meaning

Adj

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

Noun

A person who is filthy or vulgar in nature.

Synonyms

off-color

bawdy

indecent

scurrilous

rude fellow

foul-mouthed man

fast

foul-mouthed

gross

impertinent

indecency

insolent

lewd

lustful

abusive

obscene

rancid

rude

salacious

scabrous

shameful

sleazy

smutty

unashamed

vulgar

bald-faced

nasty

barefaced

blue

cheeky

coarse

dirty

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹɪb.əld/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: ribald

Cognate with English: ribaud

Cognate with Old High German: rīban

Cognate with German: reiben

Cognate with Dutch: wrijven

Cognate with Old High German: hrība

Cognate with English: wrap

In summary

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 rīban (“to rub”), German reiben (“to rub”), Dutch wrijven (“to rub”). Compare also Old High German hrība (“prostitute”). See also English wrap.