rabble /ˈrabl
/ ▸ noun 1 a disorderly crowd; a mob: he was met by a rabble of noisy, angry youths.
▪ (the rabble) derogatory ordinary people, especially when regarded as socially inferior or uncouth: he was popular among the rabble of the nation.
2 rare a large group of butterflies: we arrived at the grounds after following a rabble of butterflies.
– ORIGIN late Middle English (in the senses ‘string of meaningless words’ and ‘pack of animals’): perhaps related to dialect rabble ‘to gabble’.