rat-a-tat

Also rat-a-tat-tat

[rat-uh-tat]

noun

1. a sound of knocking or rapping.

   a sharp rat-a-tat on the window.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rat-a-tat¹

First recorded in 1675–85; imitative

Example Sentences

But then the rat-a-tat of gunfire began, and explosions.

Read more on BBC

You could hear her before you could see her: a throaty, rat-a-tat laugh — ha-ha-ha-ha — drifting through the cool canyon air.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Each show reflects in its own way the influence of a gritty genre that situated world-weary protagonists in cold, uncaring worlds armed only with their wits, fists, guns and rat-a-tat dialogue.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Like darkness emanating from Mordor, rat-a-tat headlines about Trump signal the return of a figure dead set on power.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But California’s governor was utterly slavish in the role of dutiful party soldier, repeatedly extolling Biden’s performance with a rat-a-tat of statistics — a Newsom hallmark — on falling inflation, rising employment and other favorable barometers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• chatter