adjective
ribald
RIB-uld/ˈrɪbld/
Humorous in a coarse way, especially about sex.
The bakers laugh at the ribald double meaning in the written joke.
Etymology
Old French ribaut named a rogue or lewd person; its deeper origin is uncertain. In English, the noun also described an irreverent jester, connecting disreputable behavior with humorously indecent speech.
In context
when he sings ribald songs——” “Oh, yes. He came home last night like that. Cissy and I just went to our room and shut ourselves in where we couldn’t hear him.
More examples
- The sailors sing a ribald song that makes everyone blush.
- Their ribald banter stops when the children enter.
- Her ribald sense of humor surprises her reserved coworkers.
Forms
ribaldry noun — Coarse humor, especially jokes about sex.
Similar words
- bawdy
- Emphasizes openly sexual humor, often in songs or stories.
- raunchy
- Can describe sexually explicit material without implying any humor.