ˈrætl 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. ørattle the
sabre threaten war. øørattly adj. [ME, prob. f. MDu. & LG ratelen (imit.)]