Definition of rattle

rattleverb

tiếng kêu

/ˈrætl//ˈrætl/

The word "rattle" originated in Old English, around the 10th century, and has roots in the Proto-Germanic language. The Old English word for rattle was "rætSl," which was composed of two elements: "raet," meaning "to move rapidly back and forth," and "Sl," which was a nasalized form of the word for "to scatter." The Old English word "rætSl" described both the sound produced by objects being shaken or rattled, as well as the objects themselves. This dual meaning was also present in the Old Norse word "hrylir," which was used to describe both rattles and the sound they made. Over time, the spelling of the word "rattle" evolved, reflecting the changes in the English language. The medieval misunderstanding of the Latin letter "eth," which at the time looked like a "ts," caused the suffix "-le" to be added, transforming the Old English "rætSl" into "rættesl." In the 14th century, the "t" in "rættesl" was dropped, resulting in the modern spelling "rattesl." The final "es" was then dropped in the 16th century, and "rattles" was born. Today, the word "rattle" is used to describe a variety of objects that make a rattling noise, from musical instruments to toys to tools. It also refers to the sound itself, such as in phrases like "the rattle of chains" or "the rattle of a train passing by." The word's rich history and dual meaning continue to be reflected in its modern usage.

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to make a series of short loud sounds when shaking or hitting against something hard; to make something do this

tạo ra một chuỗi âm thanh lớn ngắn khi lắc hoặc va vào vật cứng; làm cái gì đó làm điều này

Example:
  • Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled.

    Mỗi lần có xe buýt đi qua, cửa sổ lại rung lên.

  • He shook me so hard that my teeth rattled.

    Anh ta lắc tôi mạnh đến nỗi răng tôi va vào nhau lập cập.

  • She stood there, rattling the collecting tin.

    Cô ấy đứng đó, kêu lạch cạch cái hộp đựng đồ thu thập.

to make a series of short loud sounds as it moves somewhere

để tạo ra một loạt các âm thanh lớn ngắn khi nó di chuyển ở đâu đó

Example:
  • A convoy of trucks rattled by.

    Một đoàn xe tải rầm rập chạy qua.

to make somebody nervous or frightened

làm ai đó lo lắng hoặc sợ hãi

Example:
  • He was clearly rattled by the question.

    Rõ ràng là anh ấy đang bối rối trước câu hỏi này.

  • Are you all right? You look a bit rattled.

    Bạn có ổn không? Trông bạn có vẻ hơi bối rối.

Related words and phrases

Idioms

rattle somebody’s cage
(informal)to annoy somebody
  • Who's rattled his cage?