Word Direct Answers

What does "rabble" mean?

Rabble: A tumultuous crowd of vulgar, noisy people; a mob; a confused, disorderly throng. I saw, I say, come out of London, even unto the presence of the prince, a great rabble of mean and light persons. Ascham. Jupiter, Mercury, Bacchus, Venus, Mars, and the whole rabble of licentious deities. Bp. Warburton.

Additional senses

  1. 2.A confused, incoherent discourse; a medley of voices; a chatter. The rabble, the lowest class of people, without reference to an assembly; the dregs of the people. "The rabble call him "lord.'" Shak.
  2. 3.To speak in a confused manner. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
  3. 4.To stir or skim with a rabble, as molten iron.
  4. 5.To insult, or assault, by a mob; to mob; as, to rabble a curate. Macaulay. The bishops' carriages were stopped and the prelates themselves rabbled on their way to the house. J. R. Green.
  5. 6.To utter glibly and incoherently; to mouth without intelligence. [Obs. or Scot.] Foxe.
  6. 7.To rumple; to crumple. [Scot.]

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