rattling

[ rat-ling ]
/ ˈræt lɪŋ /

adjective

that rattles: a rattling door.
remarkably good, lively, or fast: a rattling talk; a rattling gallop.

adverb

very: a rattling good time.

Origin of rattling

1350–1400; Middle English ratelinge; see rattle1, -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM rattling

rat·tling·ly, adverb

Definition for rattling (2 of 3)

rattle 1
[ rat-l ]
/ ˈræt l /

verb (used without object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling.

noun

Origin of rattle

1
1250–1300; Middle English ratelen (v.), ratele (noun) (cognate with Dutch ratelen, German rasseln); imitative

Definition for rattling (3 of 3)

rattle 2
[ rat-l ]
/ ˈræt l /

verb (used with object), rat·tled, rat·tling. Nautical.

to furnish with ratlines (usually followed by down).

Origin of rattle

2
1720–30; back formation from ratling ratline (taken as verbal noun)

Example sentences from the Web for rattling

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (1 of 4)

rattling
/ (ˈrætlɪŋ) /

adverb

informal (intensifier qualifying something good, fine, pleasant, etc) a rattling good lunch

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (2 of 4)

Rattle
/ (ˈrætəl) /

noun

Sir Simon . born 1955, English conductor. Principal conductor (1980–91) and music director (1991–98) of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (3 of 4)

rattle 1
/ (ˈrætəl) /

verb

noun

Word Origin for rattle

C14: from Middle Dutch ratelen; related to Middle High German razzen, of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for rattling (4 of 4)

rattle 2
/ (ˈrætəl) /

verb

(tr often foll by down) to fit (a vessel or its rigging) with ratlines

Word Origin for rattle

C18: back formation from rattling, variant of ratline