rabble
n. countablen. a large, noisy group of people that is often disorganized or out of control. It is usually a rude way to describe a crowd of people you think are lower class or poorly behaved.
n. a disorganized, noisy, or unruly crowd of people. Often used as a derogatory collective term for the common people or the lower social classes.
The angry rabble gathered outside the palace gates.
The politician dismissed the protesters as a mindless rabble rather than addressing their specific concerns.
The speaker struggled to be heard over the din of the rabble, whose shouting and chanting effectively drowned out any attempt at rational debate.
First attested since 1300s, from Middle English rablen (“to ramble; rave; speak in a confused manner”), cognate with Middle Dutch rabbelen (“to talk; chatter; trifle”), Low German rabbeln, robbeln (“to chatter; prattle”).
From Middle English rabel, probably from the verb (see above).
From Old French roable (modern French râble), from Latin rutabulum (“a poker”).
Usually takes a singular verb, but can take a plural verb in British English when referring to the individuals within the group.