A limerick is a humorous poem which has five lines.
limerick in British English
(ˈlɪmərɪk)
noun
a form of comic verse consisting of five anapaestic lines of which the first, second, and fifth have three metrical feet and rhyme together and the third and fourth have two metrical feet and rhyme together
Word origin
C19: allegedly from will you come up to Limerick?, a refrain sung between nonsense verses at a party
Limerick in British English
(ˈlɪmərɪk)
noun
1.
a county of SW Republic of Ireland, in N Munster province: consists chiefly of an undulating plain with rich pasture and mountains in the south. County town: Limerick. Pop: 175 304 (2002). Area: 2686 sq km (1037sq miles)
2.
a port in SW Republic of Ireland, county town of Limerick, at the head of the Shannon estuary. Pop: 86 998 (2002)
Limerick in American English
(ˈlɪmərɪk; ˈlɪmrɪk)
1.
county in SW Ireland, in Munster province: 1,037 sq mi (2,686 sq km); pop. 110,000
2.
its county seat: pop. 75,000
limerick in American English
(ˈlɪmərɪk; ˈlɪmrɪk)
noun
a nonsense poem of five anapestic lines, now often bawdy, usually with the rhyme scheme aabba, the first, second, and fifth lines having three stresses, the third and fourth having two: the form was popularized by Edward Lear (Ex.: There was a young lady named Harris, / Whom nothing could ever embarrass / Till the bath salts one day / In the tub where she lay / Turned out to be plaster of Paris)
Word origin
prob. < Ir refrain containing the name
Examples of 'limerick' in a sentence
limerick
`And the answering limerick is: `Dear Sir, Your astonishment's odd.
Anita Anderson SUMMER OF SECRETS (2003)
Then hadn't it been Deeck, the phlegmatic militiaman who had taught her an English limerick ?
Hilton, John Buxton DISPLACED PERSON (2003)
Word lists with
limerick
Republic of Ireland counties, Main British and Irish ports
In other languages
limerick
British English: limerick NOUN
A limerick is a humorous poem which has five lines.