subs. (old).—1. A dice-box (B. E., c. 1696; GROSE, 1785). Also (2 and 3) see verb. 1, and RATTLER, 2. Also (4) in pl. = (a) the croup, and (b) the throat rattle preceding death.
Verb. (colloquial).—Generic for rapid movement or noisy loquacity: hence (1) to talk or move quickly or noisily (B. E. and GROSE); (2) to censure, confuse, or irritate. Whence, as subs. = (1) a clamour of words; (2) a scolding; (3) a lively talker: also (senses 1 and 2) RATTLING. Derivatives are numerous: RATTLE-BABY = a chattering child; RATTLE-BAG (-BLADDER, -BRAIN, -CAP, -HEAD, -PATE, -SCULL, or RATTLER) = a flighty blab, a chatterbox (see RATTLE-TRAP): cf. SCOTT, Redgauntlet. xi., “The Bishop’s summoner that they called ‘The Deil’s RATTLEBAG’”: also as adjs. = chattering, whimsical, giddy; RATTLED = confused or flurried; WITH A RATTLE = with a rush or spurt; TO RATTLE UP = to gather noisily; TO RATTLE DOWN = to disperse with a clatter; RATTLER = (1) a RATTLE-BAG, supra; (2) a smart blow or sound scolding; (3) an out-and-out lie; (4) a coach, cab, or train; (5) a rattle-snake (American); (6) in pl., the teeth, or GRINDERS (q.v.); and (7) anything extra fine in size, value, &c.; RATTLING = (1) brisk; and (2) lively and conspicuous in pace, habit, manners, &c.; RATTLING-COVE = a coachman; RATTLING-MUMPER = a carriage beggar (B. E.; HALL; GROSE; VAUX). Also see SHAKE, TATS.
1502. SHAKESPEARE, Midsummer Night’s Dream, v. 1, 102. The RATTLING tongue of saucy and audacious eloquence.
1596. NASHE, Have with You to Saffron-Walden [GROSART, Works, iii. 147]. They RATLED him vp soundly, and told him if he would be conformable to the order of the prison so it was, otherwise hee should bee forc’t.
1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie [HALLIWELL]. Extreamely reviled, cruelly RATLED, horribly railed on.
1613. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Honest Man’s Fortune, v. 3. If my time were not more precious … I would RATTLE thee, it may be beat thee.
1630. TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes.
| That if our Hackney RATLERS were so drawne, | |
| With cords, or ropes, or halters. |
1630. G. HAKEWILL, An Apologie, 324. All this adoe about the golden age is but an empty RATTLE & frivolous conceipt.
1633. COTTINGTON, To Strafford [HALLAM, The Constitutional History of England, II. 89], 29 Oct. The king hath so RATTLED my lord-keeper, that he is the most pliable man in England.
1633. PRYNNE, Histrio-mastix, i. v. Our lascivious, impudent, RATTLE-PATED gadding females.
1636. HEYWOOD, Love’s Mistress, 9.
| Boys, without beards, get boys, and girls, bear girls; | |
| Fine little RATTLE-BABIES, scarce thus high, | |
| Are now call’d wives. |
1644. HEYLYN, Life of Laud, 257. Receiving such a RATTLE for his former contempt.
1669. PEPYS, Diary, 25 March. I did lay the law open to them, and RATTLE the master-attendants out of their wits almost.
1692. J. HACKET, Life of Archbishop Williams, i. 130. Many RATTLEHEADS as well as they, did bestir them to gain-stand this match.
1694. CONGREVE, The Double Dealer, ii. 4. Pray your ladyship, give me leave to be angry—I’ll RATTLE him up, I warrant you.
1701. FARQUHAR, Sir Henry Wildair, v. 3. I rather fancy that the RATTLE-HEADED fellow her husband has broke the poor lady’s heart.
1708. SWIFT, A Project for the Advancement of Religion and the Reformation of Manners. He RATTLES it out against Popery. Ibid. (1712–3), The Journal to Stella, 24 Feb., lx. I chid the servants, and made a RATTLE.
1709. STEELE, Tatler, No. 2.
| My Lady with her tongue was still prepar’d, | |
| She RATTLED loud, and he impatient heard. |
1715. HEARNE, Reliquiæ, 1715. Townshend, one of the secretaries of state, hath sent RATTLING letters to Dr. Charlett.
1749. FIELDING, Tom Jones, IV. v. Tom, though an idle, thoughtless, RATTLING rascal, was nobody’s enemy but his own.
1754. POULTER, The Discoveries of John Poulter, 37. Go three or four miles out of Town to meet the RATTLERS.
1764. A. MURPHY, No One’s Enemy but his Own, ii. This RATTLE seems to please you: but let me tell you, the man who prevails with me must have extraordinary merit.
1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, iii. At the Ladies’ Club in town I’m called their agreeable RATTLE.
1781. MESSINK, The Choice of Harlequin, ‘Ye Scamps, Ye Pads, Ye Divers,’ i. RATTLING UP your darbies, come hither at my call.
1788. G. A. STEVENS, The Adventures of a Speculist, ii. 151. He was such a RATTLE-HEAD, so inconstant and so unthinking.
1790. A. SHIRREFS, Jamie and Bess, ii. 1, in Poems, 49.
| Gin Geordy be the RATTLE-SCULL I’m taul’, | |
| I may expect to find him stiff and baul’. |
1818. AUSTEN, Northanger Abbey, ix. She had not been brought up to understand the propensities of a RATTLE, nor to know to how many idle assertions and impudent falsehoods the excess of vanity will lead.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 8.
| And long before daylight, gigs, RATTLERS, and prads, | |
| Were in motion for Moulsey, brimful of the Lads. |
1820. LAMB, The Essays of Elia, ‘The South-Sea House.’ A little less facetious, and a great deal more obstreperous, was fine, RATTLING, RATTLE-HEADED Plumer.
1821. P. EGAN, Life in London, II. v. At length a move was made, but not a RATTLER was to be had.
1844. THACKERAY, Barry Lyndon, i. 21. He danced prettily, to be sure, and was a pleasant RATTLE of a man.
1848. RUXTON, Life in the Far West, 12. Crawled like RATTLERS along this bottom.
1854. WHYTE-MELVILLE, General Bounce, xiii. Who would have suspected the RATTLING, agreeable, off-hand Mount Helicon of deep-laid schemes and daring ambition?
1857. C. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, xi. “RATTLE-PATE as I am, I forgot all about it.”
1862. Cornhill Magazine, Nov., 648. We have just touched for a RATTLING stake of sugar at Brum.
1865. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, I. viii. I should have given him a RATTLER for himself, if Mrs. Boffin hadn’t thrown herself betwixt us, and received flush on the temple.
1878. H. JAMES, The Europeans, iv. Robert Acton would put his hand into his pocket every day in the week if that RATTLE-PATED little sister of his should bid him.
1879. J. W. HORSLEY, ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ in Macmillan’s Magazine, XL. 501. I’ll go to London Bridge RATTLER, and take a dearer ride.
1885. G. MEREDITH, Diana of the Crossways, iii. 367. “I RATTLED at her; and oh! dear me, she perks on her hind heels and defies me to prove.”
1888. Daily Chronicle, 10 Dec. Bachelor came on WITH A RATTLE and won by a length and a half.
1888. BOLDREWOOD, Robbery under Arms, xii. They’ve fetched a RATTLING price. Ibid., xxviii. A RATTLING good magistrate.
1892. Pall Mall Gazette, 19 March, 7, 1. Mr. Labouchere made a RATTLING speech against the Reuter contract.
1898. BINSTEAD, A Pink ’Un and a Pelican, 58. Far be it from me to suggest … the painful and vulgar expedient of ‘macing the RATTLER,’ but the name of the person, if any, who produced from his pockets twice the necessary fifteen-and-eightpence for the tickets, is not forthcoming.
