Flurried, confused.
1869. I think he was slightly rattled by the formidable appearance of our escort. Doubtless he thought we had come to raze the town, or seize the old blind horse that was at work in the arastra.—J. Ross Browne, ‘Adventures in the Apache Country,’ p. 282.
1887. We have found that girls of good physique, healthy young women, are much less liable to irritation and impatience, much less liable to ‘get rattled,’ than those who are a little weak and ill.—Scientific American, lvi. 106/1 (Feb. 12). (N.E.D.)
1888. No wonder the members of the City Council get rattled by the rush and roar of business.—Chicago Inter-Ocean, March 7 (Farmer).
1896. We can do it, ’f we don’t get rattled an’ lose our heads.—Ella Higginson, ‘Tales from Puget Sound,’ p. 210.
1902. He was powerful rattled, runnin’ round like a dog after its tail.—W. N. Harben, ‘Abner Daniel,’ p. 215.
1910. The plight of Ohio’s rattled Republicans is enough to win grimy tears from the stony basilisk.—N.Y. Evening Post, Feb. 10.
