to give out or cause a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as in consequence of agitation and repeated concussions: The windows rattled in their frames.
to move or go, especially rapidly, with such sounds: The car rattled along the highway.
to talk rapidly; chatter: He rattled on for an hour about his ailments.
verb (used with object),rat·tled,rat·tling.
to cause to rattle: He rattled the doorknob violently.
to drive, send, bring, etc., especially rapidly, with rattling sounds: The wind rattled the metal can across the roadway.
to utter or perform in a rapid or lively manner: to rattle off a list of complaints.
to disconcert or confuse (a person): A sudden noise rattled the speaker.
Hunting. to stir up (a cover).
noun
a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as from the collision of hard bodies.
an instrument contrived to make a rattling sound, especially a baby's toy filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken.
the series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail of a rattlesnake, with which it produces a rattling sound.
a rattling sound in the throat, as the death rattle.
Origin of rattle
1
1250–1300; Middle English ratelen (v.), ratele (noun) (cognate with Dutch ratelen,German rasseln); imitative
SYNONYMS FOR rattle
1 clatter, knock.
7 discompose.
9 clatter.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rattle ON THESAURUS.COM
Definition for rattle (2 of 2)
rattle2
[ rat-l ]
/ ˈræt l /
verb (used with object),rat·tled,rat·tling.Nautical.
to furnish with ratlines (usually followed by down).
Origin of rattle
2
1720–30; back formation from ratlingratline (taken as verbal noun)
In that book, Hoving made many claims that rattled the gatekeepers of the art world.
Are Over Half the Works on the Art Market Really Fakes?|Tom Sykes|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He admitted that repeated questions about the currency and the economy had rattled voters.
Scots Must Choose Heart or Head|Nico Hines|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The crisis in neighbouring Ukraine has rattled Alexander Lukashenko's authoritarian regime.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, June 14, 2014|The Daily Beast|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was a ghastly tragedy that rattled a nation and became a byword for anti-Semitism in France.
A Horror Story of True-Life Anti-Semitism in France|Tracy McNicoll|April 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rattled, Harris fled to New York, leaving his vast estate to his protégé.
The Grape King from Shogunate Japan|Debra A. Klein|April 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jack came next, fortunately without dislodging any stones, which might have rattled down and betrayed their proceedings.
From Powder Monkey to Admiral|W.H.G. Kingston
Villiam rattled his good sword Escalibar4in its scabbard, and says he, grimly, "We are met together for that purpose."
The Orpheus C. Kerr Papers. Series 3|Robert H. Newell
I would have answered him back in his own coin if I hadn't felt so bad about it all, and rattled, besides.
Wild Justice: Stories of the South Seas|Lloyd Osbourne
Outside the wind was wailing like the damned, and the rain which had recommenced with new vigour, rattled noisily upon the panes.
The Trampling of the Lilies|Rafael Sabatini
And so we rattled on interrupted at intervals by exclamations called forth by England's unique beauty.
An American Four-In-Hand in Britain|Andrew Carnegie
British Dictionary definitions for rattle (1 of 3)
rattle1
/ (ˈrætəl) /
verb
to make or cause to make a rapid succession of short sharp sounds, as of loose pellets colliding when shaken in a container
to shake or cause to shake with such a soundthe explosion rattled the windows
to send, move, drive, etc, with such a soundthe car rattled along the country road
(intr foll by on) to chatter idly; talk, esp at lengthhe rattled on about his work
(tr ; foll by off, out etc)to recite perfunctorily or rapidly
(tr)informalto disconcert; make frightened or anxious
noun
a rapid succession of short sharp sounds
an object, esp a baby's toy, filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken
a series of loosely connected horny segments on the tail of a rattlesnake, vibrated to produce a rattling sound
any of various European scrophulariaceous plants having a capsule in which the seeds rattle, such as Pedicularis palustris (red rattle) and Rhinanthus minor (yellow rattle)
idle chatter
an idle chatterer
med another name for rale
Word Origin for rattle
C14: from Middle Dutch ratelen; related to Middle High German razzen, of imitative origin
British Dictionary definitions for rattle (2 of 3)
rattle2
/ (ˈrætəl) /
verb
(tr often foll by down) to fit (a vessel or its rigging) with ratlines
Word Origin for rattle
C18: back formation from rattling, variant of ratline
British Dictionary definitions for rattle (3 of 3)
Rattle
/ (ˈrætəl) /
noun
Sir Simon . born 1955, English conductor. Principal conductor (1980–91) and music director (1991–98) of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002