English

Adjective

bawdy ‎(comparative bawdier or more bawdy, superlative bawdiest or most bawdy)

1. (obsolete) Soiled, dirty. [from 14th Century]
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter v, in Le Morte Darthur, book VII:

     whanne he had ouertaken the damoysel / anone she sayd what dost thow here / thou stynkest al of the kechyn / thy clothes ben bawdy of the greece and talowe that thou gaynest in kyng Arthurs kechyn

2. Obscene; filthy; unchaste. [from 15th Century]
3. (of language) Sexual in nature and usually meant to be humorous but considered rude.

Derived terms

• bawdily
• bawdiness
• bawdy house

Translations

References

• “bawdy” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).