riffraff
noun/ˈɹɪfɹæf/
Etymology From Old French rif et raf (“one and all”), of Germanic origin. The first word is from rifler (“to scrape off”) and the last is from raffler, related to rafler (“to plunder”).
1
Derogatory, Informal, Usually The rabble; crowds; people of a low, disreputable or undesirable class or position.
- They started charging a modest fee in an effort to keep the riffraff out.
- Agent Beeman (Noah Emmerich): I think we got him. / Special Agent Gaad (Richard Thomas): Who? / Agent Beeman: I-I-I don't know. The guy who killed Chris, the--the Russians, the whole damn thing maybe. / Special Agent Gaad: You want to sit down? / Agent Beeman: The guy from the salvage yard who hocked the ring, and he does business with some riffraff from the projects.2013, “Only You” (20:08 from the start), in The Americans, season 1, episode 10:
1 more example
- Mom: [Walks away with King Pridemoor.] / King Knight: 'MOM, WAIT! ..... MOM!! *SIGH* WELL, FINALLY, THE RIFF-RAFF... AND MY MOM, ARE GONE.'2019 December 10, Yacht Club Games, Shovel Knight: King of Cards, Nintendo 3DS, scene: ending:
2
Informal, Usually Sweepings; refuse.
- Derived terms
- riffraffish, riff-raffy
- Related terms
- raffish