Wiktionary

rabble

English edit

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈɹæbəl/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -æbəl

Etymology 1 edit

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”).

Alternative forms edit

Verb edit

rabble (third-person singular simple present 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 edit

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

Noun edit

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; see also Thesaurus:commonalty
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Etymology 3 edit

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

Noun edit

rabble (plural rabbles)

  1. An iron bar used in puddling.

Verb edit

rabble (third-person singular simple present rabbles, present participle rabbling, simple past and past participle rabbled)

  1. (transitive) To stir with a rabble.
Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

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