a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 47 To moche moisture of suche men [sc. stutterers], þat is cause of ratelinge [L. draulizationis], comeþ to þe stomak and makeþ ofte þe bowels slider and brediþ diariam.

a1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Digby) 31 Þere oþer beloweth with a reght musell byfore hem in bolkynge and ratelynge withinne þe throte.

a1513 W. Dunbar Flyting in Poems (1998) I. 207 For rerd of thé, and rattling of thy butis.

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. vi. 7 So bustuus grew the..furyus fray, And ratlyng [Small raitling] of thar armour on the streit.

1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions ii. viii. 180 There is no glittering apparell, no rattelinge in sylkes, no rusteling in veluettes.

1656 Disc. Auxiliary Beauty 126 What is this but like the ratling of haile upon tiles?

a1677 I. Barrow Of Contentm. (1685) 252 The ratlings of clamorous obloquy.

1724 Philos. Trans. 1722–3 (Royal Soc.) 32 293 One other circumstance of their rattling has been observ'd, to wit, that if a single snake be surprized and rattles, and there happen to be others near him, they all take the alarm, and rattle in like manner.

1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison (ed. 7) I. 2 My Grandmother Selby..is always pleased with his rattling.

1779 E. Burke Let. T. Burgh in Wks. (1826) IX. 231 An obscure and feeble rattling in their throat.

1812 Times 2 Jan. 4/3 One of the prisoners, who was confined in the adjoining cell, heard the rattling of his irons, as if he was walking about.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xxii. 774 The rattling of dice..never ceased during the whole night.

1932 A. Bell Cherry Tree viii. 98 The rattling of a water-cart behind him did not startle him into a gallop.

1984 H. Spurling Secrets of Woman's Heart 34 Ivy liked him..precisely because of his rattling, his garrulity.

2001 D. F. Clark Stand by your Beds! iv. 86 We heard some strange rattlings from the back of one of the trucks.

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 47 Ratelinge men [L. Drauli] ben most I-take [sc. with diarrhoea].

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 4531 (MED) A ratland niȝt ravyn is him to rent ȝolden.

1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) 46888 Ane laithlie lene tramort..like ane bogill all of ratland banis.

c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme lxxvii. 88 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 105 Thy voices thundring crash..Did..rattling horror rore.

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. v. §9 Many sorts there are of this ratling Stone, beside the Geodes. View more context for this quotation

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 546 Ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire. View more context for this quotation

1705 Boston News-let. 18 June 2/2 Pots and Kettles made a ratling noise with it, Stones were seen to move in the Walls.

1785 W. Cowper Task iv. 144 No rattling wheels stop short before these gates.

1843 C. J. Lever Jack Hinton vi. 38 The infantry poured in a rattling roar of small arms.

1895 Mountain, Moor & Loch 93 Little rattling squares of tin hung at intervals along the telegraph wires.

1939 E. S. Gardner D.A. draws Circle vii. 105 Mrs Fermal drove up in a rattling car of ancient vintage.

1987 R. Pilcher Shell Seekers xiv. 460 No footstep, no voice, no rattling saucepans from the kitchen.

1828 T. C. Croker Fairy Legends & Trad. S. Ireland II. 113 A rattling fine dinner we had of it.

1877 W. Black Green Pastures (1878) i. 6 A rattling good sort of a girl.

1885 Punch 4 July 4/1 You do see some rattling pretty, fresh faces.

1930 A. G. Hays in W. E. Weeks All in Racket 13 This is a rattling good story.

1978 Jrnl. Royal Soc. Arts 126 636/1 Herkomer's The Last Muster is a rattling good picture.

1996 SFX May 88/1 It isn't ground-breaking stuff, admittedly, but for those after a rattling good yarn it's perfect.

1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 223/2 We had a fine ‘fake’,..it sold rattling.

1873 H. Keddie Lady Bell II. vi. 81 The exquisite, rattling-boned, grimacing Mr. Walpole condescended to commend her.

1933 E. Sitwell Eng. Eccentrics ii. 42 I am afraid the ancient and rattling-boned gallant rather gloried in this fall from grace.

1592 G. Harvey Foure Lett. iv. 53 Yet neuer childe so delighted in his rattling baby.

1673 R. Head Canting Acad. 43 Ratling Cove [printed Rarling Cove], a coatchman.

1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue at Bilk Let us bilk the rattling cove.

1905 H. B. M. Watson Twisted Eglantine xii. 164 Your rattling cove's given us a bit of trouble, curse him.

1997 K. Hall & A. Livia Queerly Phrased iv. 93/2 Rattling cove, taxi driver.

1673 R. Head Canting Acad. 49 Coach-beggars, Ratling Mumpers.

1692 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit (ed. 2) 207 The Ratling-Mumper broke the Ratling-peeper.

1999 Salon.com (Nexis) 12 June The phrase recalls euphemisms for vaguely dusky events, or worse—such as being drunk as David's sow, sentenced to the three-legged mare,..or being set upon by rattling mumpers.

1692 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit (ed. 2) 207 The Ratling-Mumper broke the Ratling-peeper.

1732 B. Franklin Poor Richard's Almanack 1733 (verso title page) My Wife..has threatned more than once to burn all my Books and Rattling-Traps (as she calls my Instruments).

1760 G. A. Stevens Hist. Tom Fool II. xvii. 149 Susan bounced into the Room, over the Machine she tumbled, crash!.. Up she soon scrambled, and ran at Mr. Rector open-fisted; crying, Curse your Rattling Traps.

1824 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 15 101 [They] shake in skin as rattlingly as they ere shook the castor.

1855 N. Wiseman Fabiola 220 The old capsararius, as he had had himself rattlingly called in his anteposthumous inscription.

1965 M. Laurence Winter's Tales 44 I had never heard her talk this way before, rattlingly. Finally she hung up.

1991 A. D. Foster Cat-a-lyst xxi. 321 The proportions of a rattlingly good-sized sonic boom.

1869 Contemp. Rev. 11 18 The general rattlingness of the rhythmic movement.