"Mobocracy," meaning "mob rule," is a rather old word. The word first
appeared in print in 1754 in a British periodical called "Gray's-Inn
Journal," written by Arthur Murphy.
From the Oxford English Dictionary (unabridged, 1971):
"Mobocracy
[f. MOB, after democracy, ochlocracy: see -CRACY.]
1. The rule of the mob, government by a mob.
1754 A. MURPHY Gray's-Inn Jrnl. No. 95 Another Mode of civil Policy,
which cannot be called by a better name than a Mobocracy."
Some online references:
"Mobocracy 'mob rule' is attested from 1754."
Online Etymology Dictionary
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=mobocracy&searchmode=none
"Mobocracy (Page: 934)
Mob*oc"ra*cy (?), n. [Mob rabble + -cracy, as in democracy.] A
condition in which the lower classes of a nation control public
affairs without respect to law, precedents, or vested rights.
It is good name that Dr. Stevens has given to our present situation
(for one can not call it a government), a mobocracy. Walpole."
ARTFL Project: Webster Dictionary, 1913
http://machaut.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/WEBSTER.sh?WORD=mobocracy
Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: mobocracy etymology
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=mobocracy+etymology
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