6. (Zoöl.) Any organ of an animal having a structure adapted to produce
a rattling sound.
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.
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 Râle.
To spring a rattle, to cause it to sound. -- Yellow rattle (Bot.), a
yellow-flowered herb (Rhinanthus Crista-galli), the ripe seeds of which
rattle in the inflated calyx.
Rat"tle*box` (-bks`), n. 1. A toy that makes a rattling sound; a
rattle.
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.
Rat"tle-brained` (-brnd`), a. Giddy; rattle-headed.
Rat"tle*head` (-hd`), n. An empty, noisy talker.
Rat"tle-head`ed, a. Noisy; giddy; unsteady.
Rat"tle*mouse` (-mous`), n. A bat. [Obs.] Puttenham.
Rat"tle*pate` (-pt`), n. A rattlehead. C. Kingsley.
Rat"tle-pat`ed, a. Rattle- headed. "A noisy, rattle-pated fellow." W.
Irving.
Rat"tler (-tlr), n. One who, or that which, rattles.
Rat"tle*snake` (rt"t'l*snk`), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of
venomous American snakes belonging to the genera Crotalus and
Caudisona, or Sistrurus. 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 diamond rattlesnake of the South (C. adamanteus),
are the best known. See Illust. of Fang.
Ground rattlesnake (Zoöl.), a small rattlesnake (Caudisona, or
Sistrurus, miliaria) of the Southern United States, having a small
rattle. It has nine large scales on its head. -- 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. -- 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. -- Rattlesnake plantain. (Bot.) See under Plantain. --
Rattlesnake root (Bot.), a name given to certain American species of
the composite genus Prenanthes (P. alba and P. serpentaria), formerly
asserted to cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Called also lion's foot,
gall of the earth, and white lettuce. -- 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). -- Rattlesnake weed (Bot.), a plant of the
composite genus Hieracium (H. venosum); -- probably so named from its
spotted leaves. See also Snakeroot.
Rat"tle*trap` (-trp`), n. Any machine or vehicle that does not run
smoothly. [Colloq.] A. Trollope.
Rat"tle*weed` (-wd`), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Astragalus. See
Milk vetch.
Rat"tle*wings` (-wngz`), n. (Zoöl.) The golden-eye.
Rat"tle*wort` (-wûrt`), n. [AS. hrætelwyrt.] (Bot.) Same as Rattlebox.
Rat"tlings (rt"tlngz), n. pl. (Naut.) Ratlines.
Rat*toon" (rt*tn"), n. [Sp. retoño.] One of the stems or shoots of
sugar cane of the second year's growth from the root, or later. See
Plant-cane.
Rat*toon", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rattooned (-tnd"); 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.
Rau"cid (r"sd), a. [L. raucus hoarse; cf. LL. raucidus.] Hoarse;
raucous. [R.] Lamb.
Rau"ci*ty (r"s*t), 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.
Rau"cous (r"ks), a. [L. raucus.] Hoarse; harsh; rough; as, a raucous,
thick tone. "His voice slightly raucous." Aytoun. -- Rau"cous*ly, adv.
Raught (rt), obs. imp. & p. p. of Reach. Shak.
Raught, obs. imp. & p. p. of Reck. Chaucer.
Raunch (rnch), v. t. See Ranch. Spenser.
Raun*soun" (rn*sn"), n. Ransom. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Rav"age (rv"j; 48), n. [F., fr. (assumed) L. rapagium, rapaticum, fr.
rapere to carry off by force, to ravish. See Rapacious, Ravish.]
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.
Would one think 't were possible for love To make such ravage in a
noble soul?
Addison.
Syn. -- Despoilment; devastation; desolation; pillage; plunder; spoil;
waste; ruin.
Rav"age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ravaged (-jd); p. pr. & vb. n. Ravaging
(-*jng).] [F. ravager. See Ravage, n.] To lay waste by force; to
desolate by violence; to commit havoc or devastation upon; to spoil; to
plunder; to consume.
Already Cæsar Has ravaged more than half the globe.
Addison.
His lands were daily ravaged, his cattle driven away.
Macaulay.
Syn. -- To despoil; pillage; plunder; sack; spoil; devastate; desolate;
destroy; waste; ruin.
Rav"a*ger (-*jr), n. One who, or that which, ravages or lays waste;
spoiler.
Rave (rv), obs. imp. of Rive.
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.
Rave (rv), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Raved (rvd); 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. Rage, Reverie.] 1. To wander in mind
or intellect; to be delirious; to talk or act irrationally; to be wild,
furious, or raging, as a madman.
In our madness evermore we rave.
Chaucer.
Have I not cause to rave and beat my breast?
Addison.
The mingled torrent of redcoats and tartans went raving down the
valley to the gorge of Killiecrankie.
Macaulay.