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 Fescennine raillery long retained traces of this original character.

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Nor is there any analogy between the religious hymns, or the Fescennine verses of Italy, and the modern ballad.

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Another class of metrical compositions, of native origin, but of a totally opposite character, was known by the name of the 'Fescennine verses.'

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

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But the original satura, which also was familiar to the Romans before they became acquainted with Greek literature, was somewhat different both from the Fescennine verses, and from the lampoons which arose out of them.

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