To spring a rattle

To spring a rattle
Rattle Rat"tle, n. 1. A rapid succession of sharp, clattering sounds; as, the rattle of a drum. --Prior. [1913 Webster]

2. Noisy, rapid talk. [1913 Webster]

All this ado about the golden age is but an empty rattle and frivolous conceit. --Hakewill. [1913 Webster]

3. An instrument with which a rattling sound is made; especially, a child's toy that rattles when shaken. [1913 Webster]

The rattles of Isis and the cymbals of Brasilea nearly enough resemble each other. --Sir W. Raleigh. [1913 Webster]

Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

4. A noisy, senseless talker; a jabberer. [1913 Webster]

It may seem strange that a man who wrote with so much perspicuity, vivacity, and grace, should have been, whenever he took a part in conversation, an empty, noisy, blundering rattle. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

5. A scolding; a sharp rebuke. [Obs.] --Heylin. [1913 Webster]

6. (Zo["o]l.) Any organ of an animal having a structure adapted to produce a rattling sound. [1913 Webster]

Note: The rattle of a rattlesnake is composed of the hardened terminal scales, loosened in succession, but not cast off, and so modified in form as to make a series of loose, hollow joints. [1913 Webster]

7. The noise in the throat produced by the air in passing through mucus which the lungs are unable to expel; -- chiefly observable at the approach of death, when it is called the death rattle. See {R[^a]le}. [1913 Webster]

{To spring a rattle}, to cause it to sound.

{Yellow rattle} (Bot.), a yellow-flowered herb ({Rhinanthus Crista-galli}), the ripe seeds of which rattle in the inflated calyx. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • To spring a rattle — Spring Spring (spr[i^]ng), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. [1913 Webster] 2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to spring a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spring — (spr[i^]ng), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. [1913 Webster] 2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to spring a surprise on… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Rattle — Rat tle, n. 1. A rapid succession of sharp, clattering sounds; as, the rattle of a drum. Prior. [1913 Webster] 2. Noisy, rapid talk. [1913 Webster] All this ado about the golden age is but an empty rattle and frivolous conceit. Hakewill. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spring — A device on the suspension system to cushion and absorb shocks and bumps and to keep the vehicle level on turns. After the stress or pressure exerted by the flexing of the spring has been removed, the spring returns to its original state. The… …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • To spring a butt — Spring Spring (spr[i^]ng), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. [1913 Webster] 2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to spring a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To spring a leak — Spring Spring (spr[i^]ng), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. [1913 Webster] 2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to spring a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To spring a mast — Spring Spring (spr[i^]ng), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. [1913 Webster] 2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to spring a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To spring a spar — Spring Spring (spr[i^]ng), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. [1913 Webster] 2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to spring a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To spring an arch — Spring Spring (spr[i^]ng), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. [1913 Webster] 2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to spring a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To spring the luff — Spring Spring (spr[i^]ng), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. [1913 Webster] 2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to spring a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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