• IPA: /ˈɹæbəl/

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

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

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

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 14^th 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, [...]

• French: cohue, foule
• Russian: толпа́
• Spanish: turba

• French: populace (the commoners), racaille, plèbe
• German: Pöbel
• Italian: gentaglia
• Portuguese: gentalha, ralé, malta
• Russian: сброд
• Spanish: gentuza, gentualla, chusma, gleba, patulea, gentecilla, populacho, plebe

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

rabble (plural rabbles)

1. An iron bar used in puddling.

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

1. (transitive) To stir with a rabble.