ribald

Etymology

Ribald came into English from Middle English ribald, itself from Old French ribaud, ribauld ("rogue, scoundrel") (which gave English ribaud), from Old French riber ("to be licentious"), from Frankish *rīban ("to copulate, be in heat", literally "to rub"), from Proto-Germanic *wrībaną ("to turn, twist, writhe"), from Proto-Indo-European *werp-, *werb- ("to turn, twist"), plus Old French -aud, from Frankish *-wald. It is related to Old High German rīban ("to rub"), German reiben ("to rub") and Dutch wrijven ("to rub"), and compares with Old High German hrība ("prostitute"). See also English wrap.