Where does “ribald” come from?
ribald (Middle English) comes from Old French ribaud, from Old French riber, from Frankish rīban, from Proto-Germanic wrībaną, from Proto-Indo-European werp-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
Ancestry of “ribald”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old French | ribaud | scoundrel |
| 2 | Old French | riber | to be licentious |
| 3 | Frankish | rīban | to copulate, be in heat |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wrībaną | to rub; to wipe |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | werp- | to bend |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |
Words derived from “ribald”