n. 1 a disorderly crowd; a mob. 2 a contemptible or inferior set of people. 3 (prec. by the) the lower or disorderly classes of the populace. rabble-rouser a person who stirs up the rabble or a crowd of people in agitation for social or political change. rabble-rousing adj. tending to arouse the emotions of a crowd.
n. the act or process of doing this.
[ ME: orig. uncert. ]