rabble

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹæbəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æbəl

Etymology 1

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

• ravel

Verb

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

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.
4. (derogatory) The mass of common people; the lowest class of populace.

   Synonyms: plebs, riffraff; see also 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, [...]

Derived terms

• rabble rouser
• rabblesome
• ribble-rabble

Translations

Etymology 3

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

Noun

rabble (plural rabbles)

1. An iron bar used in puddling.

Verb

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

• rabbler

Further reading

• “rabble”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “rabble”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “rabble”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• Babler, barbel, barble