swell mob
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Well-dressed thieves and swindlers, regarded collectively.
Register: archaic, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
But some of the Swell Mob, on the occasion of this Derby that I refer to, so far kiddied us as to hire a horse and shay; start away from London by Whitechapel, and miles round; come into Epsom from the opposite direction; […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “swell mob” mean?
Well-dressed thieves and swindlers, regarded collectively.
Is “swell mob” formal or informal?
swell mob is generally archaic, slang.