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Rattle
Definitions
- 1 Object that rattles.; Any of various plants of the genera Rhinanthus and Pedicularis, whose seeds produce a rattling noise in the wind. countable, uncountable
- 2 Alternative form of rottol: a former Middle Eastern and North African unit of dry weight usually equal to 1–5 lb (0.5–2.5 kg). alt-of, alternative, historical
- 3 loosely connected horny sections at the end of a rattlesnake's tail wordnet
- 4 Object that rattles.; A baby’s toy designed to make sound when shaken, usually containing loose grains or pellets in a hollow container. countable, uncountable
"Pleas'd with a rattle, tickled with a straw."
- 5 a baby's toy that makes percussive noises when shaken wordnet
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- 6 Object that rattles.; A musical instrument that makes a rattling sound. countable, uncountable
"The rattles of Isis and the cymbals of Brasilea nearly enough resemble each other."
- 7 a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders) wordnet
- 8 Object that rattles.; A device which produces a loud rattling sound, especially one having a ratchet mechanism and spun round on a handle. countable, uncountable
"[T]he footpath to Hendon went across hay and corn fields and in summer the sound of rattles used by boys hired to "fray" the birds from the crops was familiar."
- 9 Object that rattles.; The set of rings at the end of a rattlesnake's tail which produce a rattling sound. countable, uncountable
"The rattle of the rattlesnake is composed of the hardened terminal scales, loosened in succession, but not cast off, and modified in form so as to make a series of loose, hollow joints."
- 10 Rattling sound.; A rapid succession of percussive sounds, as made by loose objects shaking or vibrating against one another. countable, onomatopoeic, uncountable
"I wish they would fix the rattle under my dashboard."
- 11 Rattling sound.; Noisy, rapid talk; babble. archaic, countable, uncountable
"All this adoe about the golden age is but an empty rattle and frivolous conceipt."
- 12 Rattling sound.; Trivial chatter; gossip. archaic, uncountable
"“And pray where, Lady Honoria,” cried Mrs. Delvile, “do you contrive to pick up all this rattle?”"
- 13 Rattling sound.; A noisy, senseless talker; a jabberer. countable, uncountable
"‘Sir James is a young Man of an amiable disposition, and excellent character;—a little too much of the Rattle perhaps, but a year or two will rectify that […].’"
- 14 Rattling sound.; A scolding; a sharp rebuke. countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 15 Rattling sound.; A rough noise produced in the throat by air passing through obstructed airways; croup; a death rattle. countable, uncountable
- 1 To create a rattling sound by shaking or striking. ergative, transitive
"to rattle a chain"
- 2 shake and cause to make a rattling noise wordnet
- 3 To scare, startle, unsettle, or unnerve. figuratively, informal, transitive
"“Tut!” said old Bittlesham. “Tut is right”, I agreed. Then the rumminess of the thing struck me. “But if you haven’t dropped a parcel over the race,” I said, “why are you looking so rattled?”"
- 4 make short successive sounds wordnet
- 5 To make a rattling noise; to make noise by or from shaking. intransitive
"I wish the dashboard in my car would quit rattling."
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- 6 To assail, annoy, or stun with a rattling noise. obsolete, transitive
"Sound but another [drum], and another shall / As loud as thine rattle the welkin’s ear."
- 7 To scold; to rail at. obsolete, transitive
"This came to the Bishop's Ear, who presently sent for the Curate, Rattled him to some Tune, with Menaces to the Highest Degree"
- 8 To drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering.
"We rattled along for a couple of miles."
- 9 To make a clatter with one's voice; to talk rapidly and idly; often with on or away.
"She rattled on for an hour."
- 10 To experience withdrawal from drugs. UK, slang
Etymology
From Middle English ratelen, of uncertain origin; perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch ratelen or of native origin related to Old English hratele, hrætele (“a plant known for its rustling or rattling sound”), ultimately imitative. The noun (c. 1500) is from the verb.
From Middle English ratelen, of uncertain origin; perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch ratelen or of native origin related to Old English hratele, hrætele (“a plant known for its rustling or rattling sound”), ultimately imitative. The noun (c. 1500) is from the verb.
From Arabic رَطْل (raṭl), variant of classical رِطْل (riṭl), ultimately from Ancient Greek λίτρα (lítra). Doublet of liter.
See also for "rattle"
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