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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Rattle \Rat"tle\ (r[a^]t"t'l), verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Rattled} (-t'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Rattling} (-tl[i^]ng).] [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hr[ae]tele a rattle, in hr[ae]telwyrt rattlewort; cf. Gr. kradai'nein to swing, wave. Cf. {Rail} a bird.]
1. To make a quick succession of sharp, inharmonious noises, as by the collision of hard and not very sonorous bodies shaken together; to clatter.
And the rude hail in rattling tempest forms. --Addison.
'T was but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street. --Byron.
2. To drive or ride briskly, so as to make a clattering; as, we rattled along for a couple of miles. [Colloq.]
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.]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
rattled
adjective: thrown into a state of agitated confusion; ('rattled' is an informal term) [syn: {flustered}, {hot and bothered(p)}, {perturbed}]
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