bawdier

Bawdier is the comparative form of the adjective bawdy, used to describe speech, writing, or performances that are more indecent or risqué than something else. In English, bawdy denotes sexual humor, crude or obscene content, and a lack of decorum. Bawdier, therefore, signals a higher degree of such content.

Etymology: The word derives from bawd, a person who runs a brothel, with the suffix -y forming the adjective bawdy; from there the noun bawdiness and the comparative bawdier. The term has long carried moral and legal overtones in many cultures, particularly when applied to public entertainment.

Usage and examples: In literature and theater, bawdier works push beyond coded allusions toward explicit innuendo or sexual jokes. Classical examples include some Renaissance comedies known for their lively sexual humor, and Restoration comedies which often feature bawdy language. In modern media, critics might describe a scene, joke, or verse as bawdier when it relies more on crude sexual references than on wit. The term can carry pejorative or humorous connotations depending on context.

Related terms and note: Bawdy, bawdiness, bawd, lewd, ribald, raunchy. Bawdier is not a fixed legal category; historical terms such as bawdy house refer to brothels. The use of bawdy content often raises considerations of audience suitability and cultural norms.