Rat″tle (–t'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p.Rattled (–t'ld); p. pr. & vb. n.Rattling (–tlĭng).] [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrætele a rattle, in hrætelwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. κραδαίνειν to swing, wave. Cf. Rail a bird.] 1. To make a quick succession of sharp, inharmonious noises, as by the collision of hard and not very sonorous bodies shaken together; to clatter.
And the rude hail in rattling tempest forms. Addison.
'T was but the wind,
Or the car rattling o'er the stony street. Byron.
2. To drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering; as, we rattled along for a couple of miles.
3. To make a clatter with the voice; to talk rapidly and idly; to clatter; — with on or away; as, she rattled on for an hour.