RIBALD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ribald mean? 

• RIBALD (noun)
  The noun RIBALD has 1 sense:

1. a ribald person; someone who uses vulgar and offensive language

  Familiarity information: RIBALD used as a noun is very rare.

• RIBALD (adjective)
  The adjective RIBALD has 1 sense:

1. humorously vulgar

  Familiarity information: RIBALD used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RIBALD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A ribald person; someone who uses vulgar and offensive language

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("ribald" is a kind of...):

vulgarian (a vulgar person (especially someone who makes a vulgar display of wealth))

Derivation:

ribald (humorously vulgar)

• RIBALD (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Humorously vulgar

Synonyms:

bawdy; off-color; ribald

Context example:

ribald language

Similar:

dirty ((of behavior or especially language) characterized by obscenity or indecency)

Derivation:

ribald (a ribald person; someone who uses vulgar and offensive language)

 Context examples 

The fair girl, with a laugh of ribald coquetry, turned to answer him:—"You yourself never loved; you never love!"

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

My love, said Mr. Micawber, much affected, you will forgive, and our old and tried friend Copperfield will, I am sure, forgive, the momentary laceration of a wounded spirit, made sensitive by a recent collision with the Minion of Power—in other words, with a ribald Turncock attached to the water-works—and will pity, not condemn, its excesses.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He saw cowboys at the bar, drinking fierce whiskey, the air filled with obscenity and ribald language, and he saw himself with them drinking and cursing with the wildest, or sitting at table with them, under smoking kerosene lamps, while the chips clicked and clattered and the cards were dealt around.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

You have told us of their gloating lips; you heard their ribald laugh as they clutched the moving bag that the Count threw to them.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)