English Explanatory Dictionary

rabble

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To speak in a confused manner; talk incoherently; utter nonsense
  2. To speak confusedly or incoherently; gabble or chatter out
noun
  1. A bewildered or meaningless string of words.
  2. A pack of animals; or any confused collection of things.
  3. A mob; a disorderly crowd.
  4. The mass of common people; the lowest class of populace.
noun
  1. An iron bar used in puddling.
verb
  1. To stir with a rabble.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹæbəl/ en-us-rabble.ogg

Word forms

rabble rabbles rabbling rabbled ravel

Etymology

First attested since 1300s, from Middle English rablen (“to ramble; rave; speak in a confused manner”), cognate with Middle Dutch rabbelen (“to talk; chatter; trifle”), Low German rabbeln, robbeln (“to chatter; prattle”).

Synonyms

rout plebs riffraff canaille commonality commonalty crowd demos everyone general public great unhosed great unwashed herd hoi polloi lower class many masses mob multitude odds and sods peasantry populace proletariat rabble rank and file third estate trash unwashed unwashed masses working class

Derived words

rabblement rabble rouser rabble-rousing rabblesome rabbly ribble-rabble rabbler
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