I. adjective
Etymology: Middle English rateling, from present participle of ratelen to rattle — more at rattle
1. : that rattles
a rattling cough
the harness … thrown with a rattling crash on the floor — Sherwood Anderson
2. : marked by liveliness and quickness (as in speech or action) : brisk , sprightly
a rattling breeze
move at a rattling pace
her energy … and rattling independent tongue — Mary McCarthy
3. : extraordinarily good : splendid
played a rattling game — Sunday Independent (Dublin)
brought rattling outfits — O.Henry
• rat·tling·ly adverb
II. adverb
: extremely
a rattling good story
III.
variant of ratline