Rabble, n. [Probably named from the noise made by it (see Rabble, v. i.); cf. D. rapalje rabble, OF. & Prov. F. rapaille.]
1. A tumultuous crowd of vulgar, noisy people; a mob; a confused, disorderly throng.
I saw, I say, come out of London, even unto the presence of the prince, a great rabble of mean and light persons. Ascham.
Jupiter, Mercury, Bacchus, Venus, Mars, and the whole rabble of licentious deities. Bp. Warburton.
2. A confused, incoherent discourse; a medley of voices; a chatter.
1 more senses
The rabble, the lowest class of people, without reference to an assembly; the dregs of the people. "The rabble call him "lord.'" Shak.
5 other Webster entries under this spelling
Rabble (rabb'l), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Iron Manuf.)
An iron bar, with the end bent, used in stirring or skimming molten iron in the process of puddling.
Rabble, a.
Of or pertaining to a rabble; like, or suited to, a rabble; disorderly; vulgar. [R.] Dryden.
Rabble, v. i. [Akin to D. rabbelen, Prov. G. rabbeln, to prattle, to chatter: cf. L. rabula a brawling advocate, a pettifogger, fr. rabere to rave. Cf. Rage.]
To speak in a confused manner. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Rabble, v. t.
To stir or skim with a rabble, as molten iron.
Rabble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rabbled (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Rabbling (-bling).]
1. To insult, or assault, by a mob; to mob; as, to rabble a curate. Macaulay.
The bishops' carriages were stopped and the prelates themselves rabbled on their way to the house. J. R. Green.
2. To utter glibly and incoherently; to mouth without intelligence. [Obs. or Scot.] Foxe.
3. To rumple; to crumple. [Scot.]
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for rabble; he lists it under mob.
Where he writes about it:
The rabble is despicable, worthless, purposeless; a mob may have effective desperate purpose. — from mob