mob

mob
{{11}}mob (n.) 1680s, "disorderly part of the population, rabble," slang shortening of mobile, mobility "common people, populace, rabble" (1670s, probably with a conscious play on nobility), from L. mobile vulgus "fickle common people" (the phrase attested c.1600 in English), from mobile, neuter of mobilis "fickle, movable, mobile" (see MOBILE (Cf. mobile) (adj.)). In Australia and New Zealand, used without disparagement for "a crowd." Meaning "gang of criminals working together" is from 1839, originally of thieves or pick-pockets; American English sense of "organized crime in general" is from 1927.
The Mob was not a synonym for the Mafia. It was an alliance of Jews, Italians, and a few Irishmen, some of them brilliant, who organized the supply, and often the production, of liquor during the thirteen years, ten months, and nineteen days of Prohibition. ... Their alliance -- sometimes called the Combination but never the Mafia -- was part of the urgent process of Americanizing crime. [Pete Hamill, "Why Sinatra Matters," 1998]
Mob scene "crowded place" first recorded 1922.
{{12}}mob (v.) "to attack in a mob," 1709, from MOB (Cf. mob) (n.). Meaning "to form into a mob" is from 1711. Related: Mobbed; mobbing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • MOB — MOB; mob·ber; mob·bish; mob·bism; mob·bist; mob·oc·ra·cy; mob·o·crat; mob·ster; mob·u·la; de·mob; mob; mob·bish·ly; mob·bish·ness; mob·o·crat·ic; …   English syllables

  • MOB — may refer to:* An unruly crowd (of people) see: ** Mob rule (as in mobile vulgus, fickle crowd) ** Flash mob (social phenomenon) ** Smart mob (a temporary self structuring social organization, coordinated through telecommunication) * A collection …   Wikipedia

  • Mob — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. {{{image}}}   Sigles d une seule lettre   Sigles de deux lettres > Sigles de trois lettres …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Mob — Mob, n. [L. mobile vulgus, the movable common people. See {Mobile}, n.] 1. The lower classes of a community; the populace, or the lowest part of it. [1913 Webster] A cluster of mob were making themselves merry with their betters. Addison. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mob 47 — Origin Stockholm, Sweden Genres D beat, hardcore punk Years active 1982–1987, 2005–present Website Mob47.se …   Wikipedia

  • Mob — may refer to: A crowd (of people, from Latin mobile vulgus fickle commoners : An angry mob; see Ochlocracy A criminal gang In American English, organized crime; slang for Mafia or American Mafia Mobbing, human bullying behaviour Animal mobbing… …   Wikipedia

  • mob|oc|ra|cy — «mob OK ruh see», noun, plural cies. 1. political control by a mob; mob rule: »If Congress…refuses to appropriate money to maintain the judiciary and executive departments, the result is mobocracy (Baltimore Sun). 2. the mob as a ruling class …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mob — Mob, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mobbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mobbing}.] To crowd about, as a mob, and attack or annoy; as, to mob a house or a person. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mob — Sm Pöbel (ursprünglich bezogen auf Londoner Verhältnisse) erw. stil. (18. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus ne. mob. Dieses ist gekürzt aus ne. mobile beweglich , das seinerseits zitiert ist aus l. mōbile vulgus die aufgewiegelte Menge bei Claudian… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • mob — ► NOUN 1) a disorderly crowd of people. 2) Brit. informal a group of people. 3) (the Mob) N. Amer. the Mafia. 4) (the mob) informal, derogatory the ordinary people. 5) Austral./NZ a flock or herd of animals …   English terms dictionary

  • Mob — Mob, n. [See {Mobcap}.] A mobcap. Goldsmith. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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