bawdy

bawdy
\ \ [15] The adjective bawdy appears on the scene relatively late, but it is a derivative of bawd ‘prostitute’ or ‘madam’, which entered English in the 14th century. Its origins are not altogether clear, but it appears to have come from the Old French adjective baud ‘lively, merry, bold’, which in turn was probably acquired from Germanic *bald-, source of English bold.
\ \ Cf.⇒ BOLD

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:
, , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bawdy — Bawd y, a. 1. Dirty; foul; said of clothes. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] It [a garment] is al bawdy and to tore also. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 2. Obscene; filthy; unchaste. A bawdy story. Burke. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bawdy — late 14c., soiled, dirty, filthy. Meaning lewd is from 1510s, from BAWD (Cf. bawd) (q.v.), with sense of pertaining to, or befitting a bawd; usually of language (originally to talk bawdy). Bawdy Basket, the twenty third rank of canters, who carry …   Etymology dictionary

  • bawdy — [bô′dē] adj. bawdier, bawdiest characteristic of a bawd; indecent or humorously coarse; lewd n. bawdy language bawdily adv. bawdiness n …   English World dictionary

  • bawdy — index lascivious, lecherous, lewd, licentious, obscene, prurient, salacious, suggestive (risqué) Burton s …   Law dictionary

  • bawdy — [adj] vulgar, dirty blue, cheap, coarse, erotic, gross, indecent, indecorous, indelicate, lascivious, lecherous, lewd, libidinous, licentious, lustful, obscene, off color, prurient, ribald, risqué, rude, salacious, suggestive; concept 545 Ant.… …   New thesaurus

  • bawdy — ► ADJECTIVE (bawdier, bawdiest) ▪ humorously indecent. DERIVATIVES bawdiness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • bawdy — UK [ˈbɔːdɪ] / US [ˈbɔdɪ] adjective Word forms bawdy : adjective bawdy comparative bawdier superlative bawdiest referring to sex in a humorous way bawdy songs Derived words: bawdily adverb bawdiness noun uncountable …   English dictionary

  • bawdy — bawdily, adv. bawdiness, n. /baw dee/, adj., bawdier, bawdiest, n. adj. 1. indecent; lewd; obscene: another of his bawdy stories. n. 2. coarse or indecent talk or writing; bawdry; bawdiness: a collection of Elizabethan bawdy. [1505 15; BAWD + Y1] …   Universalium

  • bawdy — adjective /ˈbɔːdi,ˈbɔdi/ a) Obscene; filthy; unchaste. Thou stynkyst all of the kychyn – thy clothis bene bawdy of the grece and talow. b) Of language: Sexual in nature and usually meant to be humorous but considered rude. See Also: bawdily …   Wiktionary

  • bawdy — bawd|y [ˈbo:di US ˈbo:di] adj [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: bawd woman who works in or runs a brothel (14 19 centuries), perhaps from Old French baude confident and cheerful ] bawdy songs, jokes, stories etc are about sex and are funny, enjoyable,… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bawdy — [[t]bɔ͟ːdi[/t]] bawdier, bawdiest ADJ GRADED A bawdy story or joke contains humorous references to sex. [OLD FASHIONED] We got arrested once, for singing bawdy songs in a cemetery. Syn: lewd …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”