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   rattle

   /ˈratl/

   verb

   • 1. make or cause to make a rapid succession of short, sharp knocking sounds: "the roof rattled with little gusts of wind" Similar clatterbangclangclankclinkclunkjinglejangleclinktinkle
   • ▪ (of a vehicle or its occupants) move or travel with a knocking sound: "trains rattled past at frequent intervals" Similar joltbumpbounceshakevibratejarjudderrare:jounce
   • 2. make (someone) nervous, worried, or irritated: informal "she turned quickly, rattled by his presence" Similar unnervedisconcertdisturbflustershakeperturbdiscomposediscomfitdiscountenancemake nervousput offthrow off balanceruffleagitateput off one's strokeupsetfrightenscareinformal:fazethrowget to

   noun

   • 1. a rapid succession of short, sharp, sounds: "the rattle of teacups on the tray" Similar clatterclatteringclankclankingclinkclinkingclangingjinglejinglingjanglejangling
   • ▪ a gurgling sound in the throat of a dying person: "there was a choking rattle and his eyes turned upwards" Similar death rattletechnical:rale
   • 2. a thing used to make a rattling sound.
   • ▪ a baby's toy consisting of a container filled with small pellets, which makes a noise when shaken.
   • ▪ a wooden device that makes a loud noise when whirled around, formerly used by spectators at football matches. British
   • ▪ the set of horny rings at the end of a rattlesnake's tail, shaken as a warning.
   • 3. a person who talks incessantly in a lively or inane way: archaic "he is such a rattle!"

   Word Origin Middle English: related to Middle Dutch and Low German ratelen, of imitative origin.

   Derivatives

   • 1. rattly adjective

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • T

     1

   • L

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   • E

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