Hoi polloi (pronounced hoi puh-LOI)

This comes from the Greek. It means “the many’ and is generally used to refer to the great mass of humanity, the common people. Purists shudder at the sight of the hoi polloi in print, pointing out that it is equivalent to “the the many.” However, theirs is probably a futile struggle. Even such conscientious writers and John Dryden refer to the hoi polloi and in British university slang that is the common designation for students who graduate without honors.