English
hoi polloi
Hoi polloi comes from Ancient Greek οἱ πολλοί ‘the many’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEοἱ πολλοίhoi polloí‘the many’
- Englishearliest quotation 1934hoi polloi
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEοἱ πολλοίhoi polloí‘the many’
- Englishearliest quotation 1934hoi polloi
Earliest quotation: 1934, Noël Coward, Play Parade: “Our moral standards sway Like Mrs. Tanqueray, And we…”
Every English word from Ancient Greek οἱ πολλοί
Today it means
noun The common people; the masses. (Used with or without the definite article.)
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek οἱ πολλοί / hoi polloi