— ribaldly , adv.
/rib"euhld/ ; spelling pron. /ruy"beuhld/ , adj.
1. vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous.
n.
2. a ribald person.
[ 1200-50; ME ribald, ribaud (n.) ribau ( l ) d, equiv. to rib ( er ) to be licentious ( riben to copulate, be in heat, lit., rub) + -au ( l ) d, -alt -wald a suffix in personal names, deriv. of * walden to rule; cf. parallel development of -ARD ]
Syn. 1. indecent, obscene, gross.
Ant. 1. pure.