rabble
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈɹæbəl/
Etymology 1

First attested since 1300s, from Middle English rablen, cognate with Middle Dutch rabbelen, Low German rabbeln, robbeln ("to chatter; prattle").

Verb

rabble (rabbles, present participle rabbling; simple past and past participle rabbled)

  1. (intransitive) To speak in a confused manner; talk incoherently; utter nonsense
  2. (transitive) To speak confusedly or incoherently; gabble or chatter out
Etymology 2

From Middle English rabel, probably from the verb (see above).

Noun

rabble (plural rabbles)

  1. (obsolete) A bewildered or meaningless string of words.
  2. (obsolete) A pack of animals; or any confused collection of things.
  3. A mob; a disorderly crowd. [from late 14th c.]
  4. (derogatory) The mass of common people; the lowest class of populace. [from 1550s]
    Synonyms: plebs, riffraff, Thesaurus:commonalty
    • 1682, [Nahum Tate; John Dryden], The Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC ↗, page 5 ↗:
      Such practices as Theſe, too groſs to lye / Long unobſerv'd by each diſcerning Eye, / The more judicious Iſraelites Unſpell'd, / Though ſtill the Charm the giddy Rabble held, [...]
Translations Translations Etymology 3

From Old French roable (modern French râble), from Latin rutabulum.

Noun

rabble (plural rabbles)

  1. An iron bar used in puddling.
Verb

rabble (rabbles, present participle rabbling; simple past and past participle rabbled)

  1. (transitive) To stir with a rabble.



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