mob / mäb/ • n. a large crowd of people, esp. one that is disorderly and intent on causing trouble or violence: a mob of protesters. ∎  (usu. the Mob) the Mafia or a similar criminal organization. ∎  (the mob) the ordinary people: the age-old fear that the mob may organize to destroy the last vestiges of civilized life.• v. (mobbed, mob·bing) [tr.] (often be mobbed) crowd around (someone) in an unruly and excitable way in order to admire or attack them: he was mobbed by autograph hunters. ∎  (of a group of birds or mammals) surround and attack (a predator or other source of threat) in order to drive it off. ∎  crowd into (a building or place): an unruly crowd mobbed the White House during an inaugural reception.DERIVATIVES: mob·ber n.

275. Mob

See also 105. CROWDS .

mobbism

the behavior of a mob. —mobbish , adj. —mobbishly , adv.

mobolatry

a reverence for and veneration of the mob.

ochlocracy

a rule or government by a mob. —ochlocrat , n. —ochlocratie, ochlocratical , adj.

ochlophobia

an abnormal fear of crowds or mobs. — ochlophobe , n. —ochlophobic , adj.

mob a large crowd of people, especially one that is disorderly and intent on causing trouble or violence. The word is recorded from the late 17th century and is an abbreviation of the archaic mobile, short for Latin mobile vulgus ‘excitable crowd’.

From the early 20th century, the Mob has been an informal term for the Mafia.

Mob

a rabble, 1688; a crowd or collection of things. See also canaille, flock, herd.

Examples: swell mob of authors, 1846; of books, 1892; of boys, 1784; of cobblers, 1700; of ducks; of horses, 1906; of kangaroos, 1846; of mankind, 1795; of metaphors, 1728; of natures, 1830; of peasants, 1813; of people; of quality, 1704; of sheep, 1875; of snobs, 1883; of theives, 1843; of thoughts, 1742; of whales, 1898.

mob2 disorderly or promiscuous crowd; the common mass of people XVII; gang of thieves XIX. Shortening of earlier synon. † mobile (XVII), itself for L. mobile vulgus the excitable or fickle crowd; see next.
Hence vb. throng, gather in a mob. XVIII.