v.
- make or cause to make a rapid succession of short, sharp knocking sounds.
▸move or travel with a knocking sound:
trains rattled past.
- informal make nervous, worried, or irritated.
-
(rattle about/around in)
be in or occupy (an unnecessarily large space).
-
(rattle something off)
say, perform, or produce something quickly and effortlessly.
-
(rattle on/away)
talk rapidly and at length.
n.
- a rattling sound.
- a thing that makes a rattling sound, in particular a baby's toy consisting of a container filled with small pellets.
▸the set of horny rings at the end of a rattlesnake's tail.
- a gurgling sound in the throat.
- archaic a person who chatters constantly.
Phrase
- rattle sabres
threaten to take aggressive action.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: rel. to MDu. and Low Ger. ratelen, of imitative origin.