/ ˈræbl; NAmE / noun [ sing.+ sing./pl. v . ] ( disapproving )
1.
a large group of noisy people who are or may become violent
SYN mob :
a drunken rabble
2.
the rabble ordinary people or people who are considered to have a low social position
SYN the masses :
a speech that appealed to the rabble
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the senses string of meaningless words and pack of animals ): perhaps related to dialect rabble to gabble .