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A low, vulgar, brutal, foul-mouthed wretch; a lewd fellow. Spenser. Pope. Ribald was almost a class name in the feudal system . . . He was his patron's parasite, bulldog, and tool . . . It is not to be wondered at that the word rapidly became a synonym for everything ruffianly and brutal. Earle.

Like a ribald. Bp. Hall.

Of a ribald quality. [R.]

The talk of a ribald; low, vulgar language; indecency; obscenity; lewdness; -- now chiefly applied to indecent language, but formerly, as by Chaucer, also to indecent acts or conduct. The ribaldry of his conversation moved Macaulay.

- so called from its resemblance in shape to the red shirt worn by the Italians patriot Garibaldi.

e. The assent, if not the approbation, of the prince. Prescott. Too many people read this ribaldry with assent and admiration. Macaulay. Royal assent, in England, the assent of the sovereign to a bill which has passed both houses of Parliament, after which it becomes law.

Of or pertaining to Atella, in ancient Italy; as, Atellan plays; farcical; ribald. -- n.

Senseless jargon; ribaldry; nonsense; trash.

Coarsely abusive, foul, or profane language; vituperation; ribaldry.

A California marine fish of an orange or red color; the garibaldi.

uffoon in the Middle Ages, who attended rich men's tables to make sport for the guests by ribald stories and songs.

The satirical or ribald poetry of the Goliards. Milman.

Ribaldry; buffoonery; a ribald story. [Obs.] Piers Plowman. Chaucer.

To subject to abusive ridicule expressed in writing; to make the subject of a lampoon. Ribald poets had lampooned him. Macaulay.

A ribald. [Obs.] P. Plowman.

Filthy; obscene; ribald. [Obs.]

Ribaldry. [Obs.] Spenser.

Ribaldry. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A ribald. [Obs.] Spenser.

To address with slang or ribaldry; to insult with vulgar language. [Colloq.] Every gentleman abused by a cabman or slanged by a bargee was bound there and then to take off his coat and challenge him to fisticuffs. London Spectator.