riffraff
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: riff-raff
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Old French rif et raf (“one and all”), of Germanic origin. The first word is from rifler (“to scrape off”) and the last is from raffler, related to rafler (“to plunder”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɹɪfɹæf/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Noun
riffraff (usually uncountable, plural riffraffs)
- (informal, somewhat derogatory) The rabble; crowds; people of a low, disreputable or undesirable class or position.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:commonalty
- They started charging a modest fee in an effort to keep the riffraff out.
- 2019 December 10, Yacht Club Games, Shovel Knight: King of Cards, Nintendo 3DS, scene: ending:
- Mom: [Walks away with King Pridemoor.] / King Knight: 'MOM, WAIT! ..... MOM!! *SIGH* WELL, FINALLY, THE RIFF-RAFF... AND MY MOM, ARE GONE.'
- (informal) Sweepings; refuse.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
the rabble
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Further reading
- Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.
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