Rattle - Ravissant

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2. To drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering; as, we rattled along for a couple of miles. [Colloq.]
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3. To make a clatter with the voice; to talk rapidly and idly; to clatter; -- with on or away; as, she rattled on for an hour. [Colloq.]
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Rattle (rătt'l), v. t. 1. To cause to make a rattling or clattering sound; as, to rattle a chain.
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2. To assail, annoy, or stun with a rattling noise.
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Sound but another [drum], and another shall
As loud as thine rattle the welkin's ear. Shak.
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3. Hence, to disconcert; to confuse; as, to rattle one's judgment; to rattle a player in a game. [Colloq.]
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4. To scold; to rail at. L'Estrange.
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Coloq. To rattle off . (a) To tell glibly or noisily; as, to rattle off a story. (b) To rail at; to scold. “She would sometimes rattle off her servants sharply.” Arbuthnot.
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Rattle, n. 1. A rapid succession of sharp, clattering sounds; as, the rattle of a drum. Prior.
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2. Noisy, rapid talk.
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All this ado about the golden age is but an empty rattle and frivolous conceit. Hakewill.
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3. An instrument with which a rattling sound is made; especially, a child's toy that rattles when shaken.
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The rattles of Isis and the cymbals of Brasilea nearly enough resemble each other. Sir W. Raleigh.
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Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw. Pope.
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4. A noisy, senseless talker; a jabberer.
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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.
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5. A scolding; a sharp rebuke. [Obs.] Heylin.
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6. (Zoöl.) Any organ of an animal having a structure adapted to produce a rattling sound.
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☞ 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.
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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 .
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Coloq. To spring a rattle , to cause it to sound. -- Coloq. Yellow rattle (Bot.), a yellow-flowered herb (Rhinanthus Crista-galli), the ripe seeds of which rattle in the inflated calyx.
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Rattlebox (rătt'lbŏks), n. 1. A toy that makes a rattling sound; a rattle.
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2. (Bot.) (a) An American herb (Crotalaria sagittalis), the seeds of which, when ripe, rattle in the inflated pod. (b) Any species of Crotalaria, a genus of yellow-flowered herbs, with inflated, many-seeded pods.
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Rattle-brained (rătt'lbrānd), a. Giddy; rattle-headed.
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Rattlehead (rătt'lhĕd), n. An empty, noisy talker.
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Rattle-headed, a. Noisy; giddy; unsteady.
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Rattlemouse (rătt'lmous), n. A bat. [Obs.] Puttenham.
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Rattlepate (rătt'lpāt), n. A rattlehead. C. Kingsley.
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Rattle-pated, a. Rattle-headed. “A noisy, rattle-pated fellow.” W. Irving.
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Rattler (răttlẽr), n. One who, or that which, rattles.
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Rattlesnake (rătt'lsnāk), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of venomous American snakes belonging to the genera Crotalus and Caudisona, or Sistrurus; sometimes also called rattler. They have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken. The common rattlesnake of the Northern United States (Crotalus horridus), and the diamondback rattlesnake (also called diamondback rattler, and diamondback) of the South and East (Crotalus adamanteus) and West (Crotalus atrox), are the best known. See Illust. of .
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Coloq. Ground rattlesnake (Zoöl.), a small rattlesnake (Caudisona miliaria or Sistrurus miliaria) of the Southern United States, having a small rattle. It has nine large scales on its head. -- Coloq. Rattlesnake fern (Bot.), a common American fern (Botrychium Virginianum) having a triangular decompound frond and a long-stalked panicle of spore cases rising from the middle of the frond. -- Coloq. Rattlesnake grass (Bot.), a handsome American grass (Glyceria Canadensis) with an ample panicle of rather large ovate spikelets, each one composed of imbricated parts and slightly resembling the rattle of the rattlesnake. Sometimes called quaking grass. -- Coloq. Rattlesnake plantain (Bot.), See under . -- Coloq. Rattlesnake root (Bot.), a name given to certain American species of the composite genus Prenanthes (Prenanthes alba and Prenanthes serpentaria), formerly asserted to cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Called also lion's foot, gall of the earth, and white lettuce. -- Coloq. Rattlesnake's master (Bot.) (a) A species of Agave (Agave Virginica) growing in the Southern United States. (b) An umbelliferous plant (Eryngium yuccæfolium) with large bristly-fringed linear leaves. (c) A composite plant, the blazing star (Liatris squarrosa). -- Coloq. Rattlesnake weed (Bot.), a plant of the composite genus Hieracium (Hieracium venosum); -- probably so named from its spotted leaves. See also .
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Rattletrap (-trăp), n. Any machine or vehicle that does not run smoothly. [Colloq.] A. Trollope.
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Rattleweed (-wēd), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Astragalus. See .
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Rattlewings (-wĭngz), n. (Zoöl.) The golden-eye.
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Rattlewort (-wûrt), n. [AS. hrætelwyrt.] (Bot.) Same as .
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Rattlings (răttlĭngz), n. pl. (Naut.) Ratlines.
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Rattoon (rătt�n), n. [Sp. retoño.] One of the stems or shoots of sugar cane of the second year's growth from the root, or later. See .
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Rattoon, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rattooned (-t�nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Rattooning.] [Cf. Sp. retoñar.] To sprout or spring up from the root, as sugar cane from the root of the previous year's planting.
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Raucid (r�sĭd), a. [L. raucus hoarse; cf. LL. raucidus.] Hoarse; raucous. [R.] Lamb.
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Raucity (r�sĭt�), n. [L. raucitas, from raucus hoarse: cf. F. raucité.] Harshness of sound; rough utterance; hoarseness; as, the raucity of a trumpet, or of the human voice.
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Raucous (r�kŭs), a. [L. raucus.] Hoarse; harsh; rough; as, a raucous, thick tone. “His voice slightly raucous.” Aytoun. -- Raucously, adv.
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Raught (r�t), obs. imp. & p. p. of . Shak.
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Raught, obs. imp. & p. p. of . Chaucer.
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Raunch (r�nch), v. t. See . Spenser.
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Raunsoun (r�ns�n), n. Ransom. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Ravage (răv�j; 48), n. [F., fr. (assumed) L. rapagium, rapaticum, fr. rapere to carry off by force, to ravish. See , .] Desolation by violence; violent ruin or destruction; devastation; havoc; waste; as, the ravage of a lion; the ravages of fire or tempest; the ravages of an army, or of time.
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Would one think 't were possible for love
To make such ravage in a noble soul? Addison.
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Syn. -- Despoilment; devastation; desolation; pillage; plunder; spoil; waste; ruin.
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Ravage, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravaged (răv�jd); p. pr. & vb. n. Ravaging (răv�jĭng).] [F. ravager. See , n.] To lay waste by force; to desolate by violence; to commit havoc or devastation upon; to spoil; to plunder; to consume.
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Already Cæsar
Has ravaged more than half the globe. Addison.
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His lands were daily ravaged, his cattle driven away. Macaulay.
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Syn. -- To despoil; pillage; plunder; sack; spoil; devastate; desolate; destroy; waste; ruin.
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Ravager (-�jẽr), n. One who, or that which, ravages or lays waste; spoiler.
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Rave (rāv), obs. imp. of .
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Rave, n. [Prov. E. raves, or rathes, a frame laid on a wagon, for carrying hay, etc.] One of the upper side pieces of the frame of a wagon body or a sleigh.
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Rave (rāv), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Raved (rāvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Raving.] [F. rêver to rave, to be delirious, to dream; perhaps fr. L. rabere to rave, rage, be mad or furious. Cf. , .] 1. To wander in mind or intellect; to be delirious; to talk or act irrationally; to be wild, furious, or raging, as a madman.
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In our madness evermore we rave. Chaucer.
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Have I not cause to rave and beat my breast? Addison.
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The mingled torrent of redcoats and tartans went raving down the valley to the gorge of Killiecrankie. Macaulay.
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2. To rush wildly or furiously. Spenser.
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3. To talk with unreasonable enthusiasm or excessive passion or excitement; -- followed by about, of, or on; as, he raved about her beauty.
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The hallowed scene
Which others rave of, though they know it not. Byron.
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Rave, v. t. To utter in madness or frenzy; to say wildly; as, to rave nonsense. Young.
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Rave, n. 1. An instance of raving.
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2. A highly flattering or enthusiastic review of a play, book, etc.
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3. A clamorous dance party, especially one featuring a band or disc jockey playing loud modern rock music oriented toward young people, held in a large room such as a warehouse, often organized by an informal or ad hoc sponsor. [originally British slang]
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Ravehook (rāvh�k), n. (Shipbuilding) A tool, hooked at the end, for enlarging or clearing seams for the reception of oakum.
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Ravel (răv'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Raveled (-'ld) or Ravelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Raveling or Ravelling.] [OD. ravelen, D. rafelen, akin to LG. rebeln, rebbeln, reffeln.] 1. To separate or undo the texture of; to unravel; to take apart; to untwist; to unweave or unknit; -- often followed by out; as, to ravel a twist; to ravel out a stocking.
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Sleep, that knits up the raveled sleave of care. Shak.
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2. To undo the intricacies of; to disentangle.
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3. To pull apart, as the threads of a texture, and let them fall into a tangled mass; hence, to entangle; to make intricate; to involve.
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What glory's due to him that could divide
Such raveled interests? has the knot untied? Waller.
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The faith of very many men seems a duty so weak and indifferent, is so often untwisted by violence, or raveled and entangled in weak discourses! Jer. Taylor.
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Ravel, v. i. 1. To become untwisted or unwoven; to be disentangled; to be relieved of intricacy.
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2. To fall into perplexity and confusion. [Obs.]
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Till, by their own perplexities involved,
They ravel more, still less resolved. Milton.
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3. To make investigation or search, as by picking out the threads of a woven pattern. [Obs.]
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The humor of raveling into all these mystical or entangled matters. Sir W. Temple.
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Raveler (-ẽr), n. [Also raveller.] One who ravels.
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Ravelin (răvlĭn; 277), n. [F.; cf. Sp. rebellin, It. revellino, rivellino; perhaps fr. L. re- again + vallum wall.] (Fort.) A detached work with two embankments which make a salient angle. It is raised before the curtain on the counterscarp of the place. Formerly called demilune and half-moon.
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Raveling (răv'lĭng), n. [Also ravelling.] 1. The act of untwisting or of disentangling.
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2. That which is raveled out; esp., a thread detached from a texture.
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Raven (rāv'n), n. [AS. hræfn; akin to D. raaf, G. rabe, OHG. hraban, Icel. hrafn, Dan. ravn, and perhaps to L. corvus, Gr. korax. √19.] (Zoöl.) A large black passerine bird (Corvus corax), similar to the crow, but larger, and has a harsh, loud call. It is native of the northern parts of Europe, Asia and America, and is noted for its sagacity.
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Coloq. Sea raven (Zoöl.), the cormorant.
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Raven, a. Of the color of the raven; jet black; as, raven curls; raven darkness.
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Raven (răv'n), n. [OF. ravine impetuosity, violence, F. ravine ravine. See , .] [Written also ravin, and ravine.] 1. Rapine; rapacity. Ray.
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2. Prey; plunder; food obtained by violence.
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Raven, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravened (răv'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Ravening.] [Written also ravin, and ravine.]
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1. To obtain or seize by violence. Hakewill.
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2. To devour with great eagerness.
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Like rats that ravin down their proper bane. Shak.
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Raven, v. i. To prey with rapacity; to be greedy; to show rapacity. [Written also ravin, and ravine.]
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Benjamin shall raven as a wolf. Gen. xlix. 27.
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Ravenala (răv�nälȧ), n. [Malagasy.] (Bot.) A genus of plants related to the banana.
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☞ Ravenala Madagascariensis, the principal species, is an unbranched tree with immense oarlike leaves growing alternately from two sides of the stem. The sheathing bases of the leafstalks collect and retain rain water, which flows freely when they are pierced with a knife, whence the plant is called traveler's tree.
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Ravener (răv'nẽr), n. 1. One who, or that which, ravens or plunders. Gower.
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2. A bird of prey, as the owl or vulture. [Obs.] Holland.
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Ravening, n. Eagerness for plunder; rapacity; extortion. Luke xi. 39.
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Ravening, a. Greedily devouring; rapacious; as, ravening wolves. -- Raveningly, adv.
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Ravenous (răv'nŭs), a. [From 2d .] 1. Devouring with rapacious eagerness; furiously voracious; hungry even to rage; as, a ravenous wolf or vulture.
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2. Eager for prey or gratification; as, a ravenous appetite or desire.
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-- Ravenously, adv. -- Ravenousness, n.
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Raven's-duck (rāv'nz-dŭk), n. [Cf. G. ravenstuch.] A fine quality of sailcloth. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
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Raver (rāvẽr), n. One who raves.
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Ravin (răv'n), a. Ravenous. [Obs.] Shak.
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{ Ravin, Ravine } (răv'n), n. [See 2d .] Food obtained by violence; plunder; prey; raven. “Fowls of ravyne.” Chaucer.
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Though Nature, red in tooth and claw
With ravine, shrieked against his creed. Tennyson.
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{ Ravin, Ravine, } v. t. & i. See , v. t. & i.
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Ravine (rȧvēn), n. [F., a place excavated by a torrent, a ravine, fr. ravir to snatch or tear away, L. rapere; cf. L. rapina rapine. See , and cf. , prey.] 1. A torrent of water. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
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2. A deep and narrow hollow, usually worn by a stream or torrent of water; a gorge; a mountain cleft.
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Raving (rāvĭng), a. Talking irrationally and wildly; as, a raving lunatic. -- Ravingly, adv.
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Ravish (răvĭsh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravished (-ĭsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Ravishing.] [OE. ravissen, F. ravir, fr. L. rapere to snatch or tear away, to ravish. See , , and .] 1. To seize and carry away by violence; to snatch by force.
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These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin
Will quicken, and accuse thee. Shak.
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This hand shall ravish thy pretended right. Dryden.
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2. To transport with joy or delight; to delight to ecstasy. “Ravished . . . for the joy.” Chaucer.
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Thou hast ravished my heart. Cant. iv. 9.
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3. To have carnal knowledge of (a woman) by force, and against her consent; to rape. Shak.
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Syn. -- To transport; entrance; enrapture; delight; violate; deflower; force.
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Ravisher (-ẽr), n. One who ravishes (in any sense).
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Ravishing, a. Rapturous; transporting.
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Ravishingly, adv. In a ravishing manner.
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Ravishment (-m�nt), n. [F. ravissement. See .]
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1. The act of carrying away by force or against consent; abduction; as, the ravishment of children from their parents, of a ward from his guardian, or of a wife from her husband. Blackstone.
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2. The state of being ravished; rapture; transport of delight; ecstasy. Spenser.
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In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment
Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. Milton.
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3. The act of ravishing a woman; rape.
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Ravissant (răvĭssănt), a. [F.] (Her.) In a half-raised position, as if about to spring on prey.
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