Link Centre Dictionary

rattle

UK/ˈɹæ.təl/ US/ˈɹæ.tɫ̩/ fairly common informal slang uk
verb (2) noun (3)

verb

1.
2.

noun

1.

a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)

  • “the death rattle”
Synonyms
2.

a baby''s toy that makes percussive noises when shaken

3.

loosely connected horny sections at the end of a rattlesnake''s tail

Origin

From Middle English ratelen, of uncertain origin; perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch ratelen or of native origin related to Old English hratele, hrætele (“a plant known for its rustling or rattling sound”), ultimately imitative. The noun (c. 1500) is from the verb.

Phrases

  • death rattle
  • gourd rattle
  • in the rattle
  • rattle a saber
  • rattle a sabre
  • rattle about
  • rattle around
  • rattle can
  • rattle off
  • rattle on
  • rattle stone
  • red rattle

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

See also

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.