fescennine

[ fes-uh-nahyn, -nin ]

adjective

1. scurrilous; licentious; obscene:

   fescennine mockery.

Fescennine

/ ˈfɛsɪˌnaɪn /

adjective

1. rare.
   scurrilous or obscene

Word History and Origins

Origin of fescennine¹

1595–1605; < Latin Fescennīnus of, belonging to Fescennia, a town in Etruria noted for jesting and scurrilous verse; -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of fescennine¹

C17: from Latin Fescennīnus of Fescennia , a city in Etruria noted for the production of mocking or obscene verse

Example Sentences

The principal constituent element in this Fescennine poetry was obscene mockery.

From Project Gutenberg

But just as it takes two to make a quarrel, so the obscene mockery of the Fescennine verses required two principals.

From Project Gutenberg

Fescennine verses of the Romans, which were used at weddings and triumphs, were intended to ward off ill luck.

From Project Gutenberg

The original Fescennine verse appears, from the testimony of Horace, to have been in metrical dialogue.

From Project Gutenberg

The Fescennine raillery long retained traces of this original character.

From Project Gutenberg