rabble meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

rabble

verb

/ˈɹæbəl/

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”).

To speak in a confused manner; talk incoherently; utter nonsense

To speak confusedly or incoherently; gabble or chatter out

rabble

noun

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

Obsolete A bewildered or meaningless string of words.

Obsolete A pack of animals; or any confused collection of things.

A mob; a disorderly crowd.

Derogatory The mass of common people; the lowest class of populace.

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, […]1682, [Nahum Tate; John Dryden], The Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 5:

Derived terms: rabblement, rabble rouser, rabble-rousing, rabblesome, rabbly, ribble-rabble

rabble

noun

Etymology From Old French roable (modern French râble), from Latin rutabulum (“a poker”).

An iron bar used in puddling.

rabble

verb

Etymology From Old French roable (modern French râble), from Latin rutabulum (“a poker”).

To stir with a rabble.

Derived terms: rabbler

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.