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

And these 'Saturae' had been themselves developed partly out of the older Fescennine dialogues—the rustic raillery of the vintage and the harvest-home,—partly out of mimetic dances imported from Etruria.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

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