v. & n.
v. 1 a intr. give out a rapid succession of short sharp hard sounds. b tr. make (a chair, window, crockery, etc.) do this. c intr. cause such sounds by shaking something (rattled at the door). 2 a intr. move with a rattling noise. b intr. drive a vehicle or ride or run briskly. c tr. cause to move quickly (the bill was rattled through Parliament). 3 a tr. (usu. foll. by off) say or recite rapidly. b intr. (usu. foll. by on) talk in a lively thoughtless way. 4 tr. colloq. disconcert, alarm, fluster, make nervous, frighten.
n. 1 a rattling sound. 2 an instrument or plaything made to rattle esp. in order to amuse babies or to give an alarm. 3 the set of horny rings in a rattlesnake's tail. 4 a plant with seeds that rattle in their cases when ripe (red rattle; yellow rattle). 5 uproar, bustle, noisy gaiety, racket. 6 a a noisy flow of words. b empty chatter, trivial talk. 7 archaic a lively or thoughtless incessant talker. rattle the sabre threaten war. rattly adj.
[ ME, prob. f. MDu. & LG ratelen (imit.) ]