PoliticsAugust 3, 2026
riffraff
RIF-raf
Definition
People regarded as disreputable, undesirable, or belonging to the lowest social class, often associated with disorderly or troublesome behavior.
Etymology
The word originated in the 15th century from the Middle English 'rif and raf,' meaning 'every one, one and all,' likely derived from the Old French 'rifler' (to rifle or spoil).
In the news
In this article, a patron describes an older, calmer crowd as preferable to 'the riffraff,' implying that the younger crowd previously causing disturbances was rowdy or undesirable.
Restaurant implements age policy, permitting entry to only those 30 and older
Read the full article ↗WKRC