Adjacent Words

Rattle definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RAT'TLE, v.i.
1. To make a quick sharp noise rapidly repeated, by the collision of bodies not very sonorous. When bodies are sonorous, it is called jingling. We say, the wheels rattle over the pavement.
And the rude hail in rattling tempest forms.
He fagoted his notions as they fell, and if they rhym'd and rattl'd, all was well.
2. To speak eagerly and noisily; to utter words in a clattering manner.
Thus turbulent in rattling tone she spoke.
He rattles it out against popery.
RAT'TLE, v.t.
1. To cause to make a rattling sound or a rapid succession of sharp sounds; as, to rattle a chain.
2. To stun with noise; to drive with sharp sounds rapidly repeated.
Sound but another, and another shall, as loud as thine, rattle the welkin's ear.
3. To scold; to rail at clamorously; as, to rattle off servants sharply.
RAT'TLE, n.
1. A rapid succession of sharp clattering sounds; as the rattle of a drum.
2. A rapid succession of words sharply uttered; loud rapid talk; clamorous chiding.
3. An instrument with which a clattering sound is made.
The rattles of Isis and the cymbals of Brasilea nearly enough resemble each other.
The rhymes and rattles of the man or boy.
4. A plant of the genus Pedicularis, louse-wort.
Yellow rattle, a plant of the genus Rhinanthus.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders); "the death rattle" [syn: rattle, rattling, rale]
2: a baby's toy that makes percussive noises when shaken
3: loosely connected horny sections at the end of a rattlesnake's tail v
1: make short successive sounds
2: shake and cause to make a rattling noise

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (rattled; rattling) Etymology: Middle English ratelen; akin to Middle Dutch ratel rattle Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. to make a rapid succession of short sharp noises <the windows rattled in the wind> 2. to chatter incessantly and aimlessly 3. to move with a clatter or rattle; also to be or move about in a place or station too large or grand <rattled around the big old house> transitive verb 1. to say, perform, or affect in a brisk lively fashion <rattled off four magnificent backhands — Kim Chapin> 2. to cause to make a rattling sound 3. rouse; specifically to beat (a cover) for game 4. to upset especially to the point of loss of poise and composure ; disturb Synonyms: see embarrass II. noun Date: 1519 1. a. a device that produces a rattle; specifically a case containing pellets used as a baby's toy b. the sound-producing organ on a rattlesnake's tail 2. a. a rapid succession of sharp clattering sounds b. noise, racket 3. death rattle III. transitive verb (rattled; rattling) Etymology: irregular from ratline Date: 1729 to furnish with ratlines

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 a intr. give out a rapid succession of short sharp hard sounds. b tr. make (a chair, window, crockery, etc.) do this. c intr. cause such sounds by shaking something (rattled at the door). 2 a intr. move with a rattling noise. b intr. drive a vehicle or ride or run briskly. c tr. cause to move quickly (the bill was rattled through Parliament). 3 a tr. (usu. foll. by off) say or recite rapidly. b intr. (usu. foll. by on) talk in a lively thoughtless way. 4 tr. colloq. disconcert, alarm, fluster, make nervous, frighten. --n. 1 a rattling sound. 2 an instrument or plaything made to rattle esp. in order to amuse babies or to give an alarm. 3 the set of horny rings in a rattlesnake's tail. 4 a plant with seeds that rattle in their cases when ripe (red rattle; yellow rattle). 5 uproar, bustle, noisy gaiety, racket. 6 a a noisy flow of words. b empty chatter, trivial talk. 7 archaic a lively or thoughtless incessant talker. Phrases and idioms: rattle the sabre threaten war. Derivatives: rattly adj. Etymology: ME, prob. f. MDu. & LG ratelen (imit.)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rattle Rat"tle, v. t. 1. To cause to make a ratting or clattering sound; as, to rattle a chain. 2. To assail, annoy, or stun with a ratting noise. Sound but another [drum], and another shall As loud as thine rattle the welkin's ear. --Shak. 3. Hence, to disconcert; to confuse; as, to rattle one's judgment; to rattle a player in a game. [Colloq.] 4. To scold; to rail at. --L'Estrange. To rattle off. (a) To tell glibly or noisily; as, to rattle off a story. (b) To rail at; to scold. ``She would sometimes rattle off her servants sharply.'' --Arbuthnot.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rattle Rat"tle, n. 1. A rapid succession of sharp, clattering sounds; as, the rattle of a drum. --Prior. 2. Noisy, rapid talk. All this ado about the golden age is but an empty rattle and frivolous conceit. --Hakewill. 3. An instrument with which a ratting sound is made; especially, a child's toy that rattle when shaken. The rattles of Isis and the cymbals of Brasilea nearly enough resemble each other. --Sir W. Raleigh. Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw. --Pope. 4. A noisy, senseless talker; a jabberer. It may seem strange that a man who wrote with so much perspicuity, vivacity, and grace, should have been, whenever he took a part in conversation, an empty, noisy, blundering rattle. --Macaulay. 5. A scolding; a sharp rebuke. [Obs.] --Heylin. 6. (Zo["o]l.) Any organ of an animal having a structure adapted to produce a ratting sound. Note: The rattle of the rattlesnake is composed of the hardened terminal scales, loosened in succession, but not cast off, and so modified in form as to make a series of loose, hollow joints. 7. The noise in the throat produced by the air in passing through mucus which the lungs are unable to expel; -- chiefly observable at the approach of death, when it is called the death rattle. See R[^a]le. To spring a rattle, to cause it to sound. Yellow rattle (Bot.), a yellow-flowered herb (Rhinanthus Crista-galli), the ripe seeds of which rattle in the inflated calyx.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rattle Rat"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rattled; p. pr. & vb. n. Rattling.] [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hr[ae]tele a rattle, in hr[ae]telwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. ? to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.] 1. To make a quick succession of sharp, inharmonious noises, as by the collision of hard and not very sonorous bodies shaken together; to clatter. And the rude hail in rattling tempest forms. --Addison. 'T was but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street. --Byron.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(rattles, rattling, rattled) 1. When something rattles or when you rattle it, it makes short sharp knocking sounds because it is being shaken or it keeps hitting against something hard. She slams the kitchen door so hard I hear dishes rattle... He gently rattled the cage and whispered to the canary... VERB: V, V n • Rattle is also a noun. There was a rattle of rifle-fire. N-COUNT • rattling At that moment, there was a rattling at the door. N-SING 2. A rattle is a baby's toy with loose bits inside which make a noise when the baby shakes it. N-COUNT 3. A rattle is a wooden instrument that people shake to make a loud knocking noise at football matches or tribal ceremonies. N-COUNT 4. If something or someone rattles you, they make you nervous. She refused to be rattled by his £3,000-a-day lawyer. = unnerve VERB: V n • rattled He swore in Spanish, another indication that he was rattled. ADJ: usu v-link ADJ 5. You can say that a bus, train or car rattles somewhere when it moves noisily from one place to another. The bus from Odense rattled into a dusty village called Pozo Almonte... VERB: V prep/adv

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Loud talk, empty talk, clamorous chiding. 2. Jabberer, prater. II. v. n. 1. Clatter. 2. Jabber, talk noisily, chatter, prate, prattle, babble. III. v. a. 1. Stun, deafen, drive (with noise). 2. Scold, chide, rail at.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

A dice-box. To rattle; to talk without consideration, also to move off or go away. To rattle one off; to rate or scold him.

Moby Thesaurus

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