ribibe

See rebec. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈbaɪb/

ribibe (plural ribibes)

1. (historical) A kind of stringed instrument; a rebec or an instrument similar to it.

   Synonym: ribible

   • 1841, Maria Elizabeth Budden, True Stories from English History. Chronologically Arranged:

     Well, my friend, and where is your ribibe, or such like instrument, belonging to a minstrel?

   • 1850, “Augustin, court musician to the emperor Maximilian I.”, in Hugh James Rose, editor, A New General Biographical Dictionary, volume 2:

     "The tones of lutes and ribibes [translating German Ribeben]
     I have right masterly and fine As ordered by imperial might.

   • 1880, Emil Naumann, translated by F. Praeger, The History of Music, volume 1, pages 258–259:

     The tone of the rubebe was similar to that of the lower register of the modern viola. As it possessed but two strings, however, its range was necessarily limited.

   • 1911, Francis William Galpin, Old English Instruments of Music, page 81:

     The Rybybe is well portrayed among the Norman carvings of the twelfth century which adorn the south doorway of Barfreston Church in Kent (Plate XV).

   • 1935, Mary Désirée Anderson, The Medieval Carver, page 86:

     Over the high-altar at Gloucester the bosses, which are foliated in the rest of the choir, represent angel-musicians, whose varied orchestra would have out-rivalled that of Nebuchadnezzar the King; harp, hutchet and psaltery; lute, clarion, shawm; bag-pipe, ribibe, gittern; bozine, symphony, cymbals; organ, tabor and timbrel, the very names ring in one's ears like the stately cadences of celestial music.

   • 1937, Philip K. Hitti, History of The Arabs:

     The rebec or ribibe, a favourite instrument with Chaucer, may be counted as one of the precursors of our violin.

   • 1938, Ezra Pound, Guide to Kulchur:

     The Persian hunting scene, the Arabian ribibi. Here, that is, in Janequin we find ground for one of the basic dissociations of music.

2. (obsolete, derogatory) An old woman.
3. (obsolete) A bawd; a prostitute.
   • 1616, Ben Jonson, The Devil Is an Ass:

     Or some good ribibe about Kentish Town or Hogsden, you would hang now for a witch

• (musical instrument) rubebe, rybybe

• ribbie