Ra*toon", v. i. Same as Rattoon, v. i.
Rats"bane` (rts"bn`), n. [Rat + bane.] Rat poison; white arsenic.
Rats"baned` (-bnd`), a. Poisoned by ratsbane.
Rat"-tail` (rt"tl`), a. Like a rat's tail in form; as, a rat-tail file,
which is round, slender, and tapering. See Illust. of File.
Rat"-tail`, n. 1. (Far.) pl. An excrescence growing from the pastern to
the middle of the shank of a horse.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The California chimæra. See Chimæra. (b) Any fish of the
genus Macrurus. See Grenadier, 2.
Rat"-tailed` (-tld`), a. (Zoöl.) Having a long, tapering tail like that
of a rat.
Rat-tailed larva (Zoöl.), the larva of a fly of the genus Eristalis.
See Eristalis. -- Rat-tailed serpent (Zoöl.), the fer- de-lance. --
Rat-tailed shrew (Zoöl.), the musk shrew.
Rat*tan" (rt*tn"), n. [Malay rtan.] [Written also ratan.] (Bot.) One of
the long slender flexible stems of several species of palms of the
genus Calamus, mostly East Indian, though some are African and
Australian. They are exceedingly tough, and are used for walking
sticks, wickerwork, chairs and seats of chairs, cords and cordage, and
many other purposes.
Rat*teen" (-tn"), n. [F. ratine.] A thick woolen stuff quilled or
twilled.
Rat"ten (rt"t'n), v. t. [Prov. E. ratten a rat, hence the verb
literally means, to do mischief like a rat.] To deprive feloniously of
the tools used in one's employment (as by breaking or stealing them),
for the purpose of annoying; as, to ratten a mechanic who works during
a strike. [Trades-union Cant] J. McCarthy.
Rat"ter (-tr), n. 1. One who, or that which, rats, as one who deserts
his party.
2. Anything which catches rats; esp., a dog trained to catch rats; a
rat terrier. See Terrier.
Rat`ti*net" (-t*nt"), n. A woolen stuff thinner than ratteen.
Rat"ting (rt"tng), n. 1. The conduct or practices of one who rats. See
Rat, v. i., 1. Sydney Smith.
2. The low sport of setting a dog upon rats confined in a pit to see
how many he will kill in a given time.
Rat"tle (-t'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rattled (-t'ld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Rattling (-tlng).] [Akin to D. ratelen, G. rasseln, AS. hrætele a
rattle, in hrætelwyrt 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.
<! p. 1192 pr=vmg !>
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.]
Rat"tle (rt"t'l), v. t. 1. To cause to make a rattling or clattering
sound; as, to rattle a chain.