riffraff

riffraff
noun Etymology: Middle English ryffe raffe, from rif and raf every single one, from Anglo-French rif e raf altogether Date: 15th century 1. a. disreputable persons b. rabble c. one of the riffraff 2. refuse, rubbishriffraff adjective

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Riffraff — Riff raff , n. [OE. rif and raf every particle, OF. rif et raf. CF. {Raff}, and 1st {Rifle}.] Sweepings; refuse; the lowest order of society. Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • riffraff — (n.) late 15c., from earlier rif and raf one and all, every scrap (mid 14c.), from O.Fr. rif et raf, from rifler to spoil, strip (see RIFLE (Cf. rifle) (v.)) and raffler carry off, related to rafle plundering (see RAFFLE (Cf. raffle)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • riffraff — [n] rabble commonality, commoners, dregs of society*, gang, gathering, hoi polloi, lower class, mob, one percenters, outcast, rank and file, ring, scum, trash, undesirables, vermin; concepts 378,417,432 …   New thesaurus

  • riffraff — [rif′raf΄] n. [earlier rif and raf, every scrap < OFr rif et raf, rifle et rafle: see RIFLE2 & RAFFLE2] 1. [often with pl. v.] those people regarded as worthless, disreputable, etc.; rabble 2. Dial. worthless stuff …   English World dictionary

  • riffraff — /rif raf /, n. 1. people, or a group of people, regarded as disreputable or worthless: a pack of riffraff. 2. the lowest classes; rabble: the riffraff of the city. 3. trash; rubbish. adj. 4. worthless, disreputable, or trashy. [1425 75; late ME… …   Universalium

  • riffraff — noun /ˈɹɪfɹæf/ The rabble; crowds; the common people. They started charging a modest fee in an effort to keep the riffraff out …   Wiktionary

  • riffraff — noun this government considers its citizens riffraff and is quick to silence the mere whispers of dissent Syn: rabble, scum, good for nothings, undesirables, lowlifes, hoi polloi, the lowest of the low; informal peasants Ant: elite …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • riffraff — /ˈrɪfræf / (say rifraf) noun 1. the worthless or disreputable element of society; the rabble: the riffraff of the city. 2. worthless or low persons. {Middle English rif and raf every particle, things of small value, from Old French rif et raf,… …  

  • Riffraff (1947 film) — Infobox Film | name = Riffraff | | caption = Movie poster for Riffraff director =Ted Tetzlaff producer =Nat Holt Jack J. Gross executive producer writer =Martin Rackin starring =Pat O Brien Anne Jeffreys Walter Slezak Percy Kilbride Jerome Cowan… …   Wikipedia

  • Riffraff (1936 film) — Infobox Film name = Riffraff image size = caption = Poster of Riffraff director = J. Walter Ruben producer = writer = Frances Marion Anita Loos H. W. Hannaford narrator = starring = Jean Harlow Spencer Tracy music = Edward Ward cinematography =… …   Wikipedia

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