ribaldry
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English
Etymology
From Middle English ribaldrie, from Old French ribaulderie, ribauderie, equivalent to ribald + -ry.
Noun
ribaldry (countable and uncountable, plural ribaldries)
- Joking or humorous language or behaviour used in a vulgar or lewd fashion.
- 1629, Fra Lenton, “Section XIV. The Young Gallant’s Whirlgig.”, in James Orchard Halliwell, editor, The Marriage of Wit and Wisdom, an Ancient Interlude. , London: Shakespeare Society, published 1846, →OCLC, page 129:
- Playes are the nurseries of vice, the bawd, / That thorow the senses steales our hearts abroad, / Tainting our eares with obscæne bawdery, / Lascivious words, and wanton ribaulry.
- 1903 February, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “Hygeia at the Solito”, in Everybody’s Magazine, volume VIII, number 2, New York, N.Y.: John Wanamaker, →ISSN, page 175, column 1:
- His jargon of slang was a continuous joy and surprise to them. His gestures, his strange poses, his frank ribaldry of tongue and principle fascinated them.
- 1986, John le Carré, A Perfect Spy:
- I remember girls with men's muscles flinging fish baskets while they yelled ribaldries at each other, and fishermen strutting among them in their oilskins, too grand to be bothered with anyone but themselves.
Related terms
Translations
humorous language or behaviour
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