rabble

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹæbəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æbəl

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”).

• ravel

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

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. (contemptuous, derogatory) The mass of common people; the lowest class of populace. [from 1550s]

• plebs
• riffraff

• rabble rouser
• rabblesome

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

rabble (plural rabbles)

1. An iron bar used in puddling.

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

1. (transitive) To stir with a rabble.

• rabbler

• rabble in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• rabble in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• rabble at OneLook Dictionary Search

• barbel, barble