rattled

rat·tle ¹  (rtl)

v. rat·tled, rat·tling, rat·tles

v.intr.

1.

a. To make or emit a quick succession of short percussive sounds.

b. To move with such sounds: A train rattled along the track.

2. To talk rapidly and at length, usually without much thought: rattled on about this and that.

v.tr.

1. To cause to make a quick succession of short percussive sounds: rattled the dishes in the kitchen.

2. To utter or perform rapidly or effortlessly: rattled off a list of complaints.

3. Informal To fluster; unnerve: The accident rattled me. See Synonyms at embarrass.

n.

1. A rapid succession of short percussive sounds.

2. A device, such as a baby's toy, that produces short percussive sounds.

3. A rattling sound in the throat caused by obstructed breathing, especially near the time of death.

4. The series of horny structures at the end of a rattlesnake's tail.

5. Loud or rapid talk; chatter.

---

[Middle English ratelen, perhaps from Middle Dutch, probably of imitative origin.]

---

rat·tle ²  (rtl)

tr.v. rat·tled, rat·tling, rat·tles

To secure ratlines to (shrouds).

---

[Back-formation from rattling, ratline, variant of ratline.]

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

rattled - thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (`rattled' is an informal term) flustered, hot and bothered, perturbed colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech discomposed - having your composure disturbed; "looked about with a wandering and discomposed air"