noun / verb

rattle

RAT-uhl/ˈrætl/

A succession of quick knocking sounds.

The loose window latch rattles as the breeze moves the casement.

A loose metal window latch vibrates against its keeper as a partly open casement moves in a breeze, making repeated sharp knocks.

Etymology

The verb describes repeated sharp noises from things colliding. It may come from Middle Dutch ratelen, probably imitative in origin, but an unrecorded Old English origin is also possible.

In context

San Francisco Public Library39:47

i turn to leave and rattle the doorknob but someone has locked me in

Performance Nomadic Press Celebrates Change

More examples

A faint rattle comes from under the hood.
She rattles the can to check whether anything is inside.
The dishes rattled when the truck passed.

Forms

rattle · rattles · rattled · rattling

Similar words

clatter: Usually suggests louder, harder impacts, often from moving objects.
knocking: Does not necessarily suggest rapid repetition, unlike a rattle.