canaille

American  

[kuh-neyl, ka-nah-y^uh] / kəˈneɪl, kaˈnɑ yə /

noun

1. riffraff; rabble.

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canaille British  

/ kanɑj /

noun

1. the masses; mob; rabble

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Etymology

Origin of canaille

1670–80; < French < Italian canaglia pack of dogs, equivalent to can ( e ) dog (< Latin canis ) + -aglia collective suffix

Example Sentences

He knew nothing of that silent middle class that struggled between genteel poverty and the impossible desire of emulating the golden canaille to which he himself belonged.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

The Sunday following—I am ashamed to say it—our cur� Daniel, and many other cur�s in our neighborhood, preached that Garibaldi was a canaille.

From The Pl?biscite or, A Miller's Story of the War by Chatrian, Alexandre

Mount, brother, mount, or we shall have the whole rustic canaille upon us in a twinkling.” p. 135I did as he commanded: we were presently in the road which we had left the night before. 

From The Bible in Spain Vol. 1 [of 2] by Borrow, George Henry

You canaille you, vis your silly talk about ze organiste.

From Lady Maude's Mania by Fenn, George Manville

Count you the fork and spoons, Mr Robbins, and see that these canaille music men come not down the air—ree.

From Lady Maude's Mania by Fenn, George Manville