rattle
pronunciation
How to pronounce rattle in British English:
UK [ˈrætl]
How to pronounce rattle in American English:
US [ˈrætl]
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- Noun:
- a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
- a baby's toy that makes percussive noises when shaken
- loosely connected horny sections at the end of a rattlesnake's tail
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- Verb:
- make short successive sounds
- shake and cause to make a rattling noise
Word Origin
- rattle
- rattle: [14] Rattle probably existed in Old English, but in the absence of any direct evidence, it is usually suggested that the word was borrowed from Middle Low German rattelen, a relative of German rasseln ‘rattle’. Whatever its ultimate source, it no doubt originally imitated the sound of rattling.
- rattle (v.)
- c. 1300 (intransitive), "To make a quick sharp noise with frequent repetitions and collisions of bodies not very sonorous: when bodies are sonorous, it is called jingling" [Johnson]. Perhaps in Old English but not recorded; if not, from Middle Dutch ratelen, probably of imitative origin (compare German rasseln "to rattle," Greek kradao "I rattle"). Sense of "utter smartly and rapidly" is late 14c. Meaning "to go along loosely and noisily" is from 1550s. Transitive sense is late 14c.; figurative sense of "fluster" is first recorded 1869. Related: Rattled; rattling.
- rattle (n.)
- c. 1500, "rapid succession of short, sharp sounds," from rattle (v.). As a child's toy, recorded from 1510s. As a sound made in the throat (especially of one near death) from 1752.
Example
- 1. Except this time you won 't have diapers or a rattle and you 'll have to dress yourself !
- 2. The rattle of the engine became louder .
- 3. She could rattle on for hours .
- 4. You 're trying to rattle me ?
- 5. If a rattle snake bit me , the snake would die .