WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
rat•tly
(rat′lē),USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- tending to rattle;
making or having a rattling sound.
- rattle1 + -y1 1880–85
rat•tle1 /ˈrætəl/USA pronunciation
v., -tled, -tling, n.
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- to (cause to) make a rapid series of short, sharp sounds: [no object]The doors rattled in the storm.[~ + object]I rattled the doorknob.
- to (cause to) move noisily: [no object]The old car rattled along the back roads.[~ + object]The wind rattled the metal can.
- rattle off, to say or perform in a rapid or lively manner: [~ + off + object]to rattle off the multiplication table.[~ + object + off]She rattled her answers off.
- rattle on, [no object] to chatter:rattling on about his ailments.
- to confuse;
make nervous;
disconcert:[~ + object]The speaker was rattled by that last question.
n. [countable]
- a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds.
- a baby's toy filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken.
- Reptilesthe series of horny, hollow rings at the end of a rattlesnake's tail, with which it produces a rattling sound.
rat•tle1
(rat′l),USA pronunciation v., -tled, -tling, n.
v.i.
v.t.
n.
rat•tle2 (rat′l),USA pronunciation v.t., -tled, -tling. [Naut.]
v.i.
- 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, esp. rapidly, with such sounds:The car rattled along the highway.
- to talk rapidly;
chatter:He rattled on for an hour about his ailments.
v.t.
- to cause to rattle:He rattled the doorknob violently.
- to drive, send, bring, etc., esp. 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.
- Sport[Hunting.]to stir up (a cover).
n.
- a rapid succession of short, sharp sounds, as from the collision of hard bodies.
- an instrument contrived to make a rattling sound, esp. a baby's toy filled with small pellets that rattle when shaken.
- Reptilesthe series of horny, interlocking elements at the end of the tail of a rattlesnake, with which it produces a rattling sound.
- Pathologya rattling sound in the throat, as the death rattle.
- 1250–1300; Middle English ratelen (verb, verbal), ratele (noun, nominal) (cognate with Dutch ratelen, German rasseln); imitative
- 1. clatter, knock. 7. discompose. 9. clatter.
rat•tle2 (rat′l),USA pronunciation v.t., -tled, -tling. [Naut.]
- Nautical, Naval Termsto furnish with ratlines (usually fol. by down).
- back formation from ratling ratline (taken as verbal noun, nominal) 1720–30