rattler

[ rat-ler ]

/ ˈræt lər /

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noun

a rattlesnake.

a person or thing that rattles.

Informal. a fast freight train.

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Origin of rattler

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at rattle¹, -er¹

Words nearby rattler

rattlebrained, rattle-bush, rattlehead, rattle off, rattlepate, rattler, rattlesnake, rattlesnake fern, rattlesnake flag, rattlesnake master, rattlesnake plantain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rattler in a sentence

Rattler lagged slightly behind his three predecessors in almost every metric last season, and he threw four total interceptions in early season losses to Kansas State and Iowa State.
Is Spencer Rattler The Next Valedictorian Of Oklahoma’s ‘Quarterback U’?|Jake Lourim|September 8, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
The rattler, a venomous snake, was taken to a wildlife facility, the organization said in a tweet.
Rattlesnake found in Old Town Alexandria|Martin Weil|June 16, 2021|Washington Post
"We are not far from the spot where we killed that rattler yesterday," said Fred, recognizing several landmarks.
Two Boys in Wyoming|Edward S. Ellis
Cheyenne, he's just the man to train up that little pet rattler of yours.
The Varmint|Owen Johnson

Besides the eight principal actors, there was a rattler, a bearer of the groaning stick, and a chorus.
The Mountain Chant, A Navajo Ceremony|Washington Matthews
Rattler was distressed to think that any drone should have made its way into the hive of working bees.
The Prime Minister|Anthony Trollope
He was cool, implacable, and dangerous as a rattler waiting for the opportune moment to spring.
Garrison's Finish|W. B. M. Ferguson

British Dictionary definitions for rattler

rattler

/ (ˈrætlə) /

noun

something that rattles

mainly US and Canadian an informal name for rattlesnake

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

rattler

Origin of rattler

Words nearby rattler

Words related to rattler

How to use rattler in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rattler