I. ˈriˌfraf, -raa(ə)f, -raif noun
Etymology: Middle English riffe raffe, from rif and raf every single one, from Middle French rif et raf completely, from rifler to plunder + raffe act of sweeping — more at rifle , raffle
1.
a. : persons of the lowest or most disreputable class
beachcombers, adventurers, rough traders, and general riffraff — Ellen La Motte
broadly : any group of persons looked upon as common, disreputable, or very unconventional
all the riffraff for miles around have been using my garden as if it were their own — P.G.Wodehouse
painters, authors, and other vagrant riffraff who frequented the premises — Norman Douglas
b. : the lowest or most disreputable element of the populace : rabble , mob , canaille
the riffraff might sack the town — Harper's
c. : one of the riffraff : a disreputable person
will not have some riffraff … trailing about with us — Elizabeth Janeway
2. : refuse , rubbish , trash
waistcoats of dirty damask, legs of velvet breeches — in a word, all the cast-off riffraff of centuries — W.W.Story
had once actually said that pigeons were mere riffraff — Sean O'Faolain
II. adjective
: composed of, belonging to, or characteristic of the rabble : disreputable , trashy , worthless
a score of riffraff gunslingers, barroom brawlers — New Yorker
riffraff opinions
a riffraff army
row of riffraff dwellings — Booth Tarkington