ragtag and bobtail

American  

Or rag, tag, and bobtail;

noun

1. the riffraff; rabble.

   The ragtag and bobtail of every nation poured into the frontier in search of gold.

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Etymology

Origin of ragtag and bobtail

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Without the populace having any hand in it, the ragtag and bobtail of the strangers became bolder and shouted more and more.

From The Legend of Ulenspiegel, Volume I (of 2) And Lamme Goedzak, and their Adventures Heroical, Joyous and Glorious in the Land of Flanders and Elsewhere by Coster, Charles Th?odore Henri de

It may please the ragtag and bobtail crowd from the ground up," said Phil soberly; "but you take it from me, Larry, unless McGee himself is convinced, there's nothing doing.

From Chums in Dixie or The Strange Cruise of a Motorboat by Rathborne, St. George

The unknown and the ragtag and bobtail of the city flung themselves on the iron grille of the choir, which they broke through, crying: “Long live the Beggar!”

From The Legend of Ulenspiegel, Volume I (of 2) And Lamme Goedzak, and their Adventures Heroical, Joyous and Glorious in the Land of Flanders and Elsewhere by Coster, Charles Th?odore Henri de

By that time they marched out, saluted by the cries of "Vive la R�forme!" of all the ragtag and bobtail from the Faubourgs du Temple and St. Antoine, who had invaded the principal thoroughfares.

From An Englishman in Paris Notes and Recollections by Albert D.