1901. Troddles, 46. 'What is it?' . . . 'Foot sugar, my boy.' 'What do you do with it—make it into a poultice, or use it as you do mustard, for colds?' 'Rats! . . . didn't you ever have a toffee scramble?'
1902. D. Telegraph, 11 Feb., 7, 2. I did not issue my writ in anticipation of one being issued by the other party. They smelt a rat.
Rather! intj. (common).—A strong affirmative; 'yes'; 'I should think so': sometimes rayther. Also ratherish (American) = in some degree; slightly.
1836. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, 240. "Do you know the mayor's house?" inquired Mr. Trott. "Rather," replied the boots, significantly, as if he had some good reason to remember it.
1862. New York Trib., 22 April [Century]. Lavalette is ratherish against Popish temporality: Gen. Guyon is rather favourable to it.
Rather of the ratherest, phr. (colloquial).—Said of anything slightly in excess or defect; in Norfolk of underdone meat.
Rat-hole, subs. phr. (printers').—1.
An overwide space between
printed words; a pigeon-hole
(q.v.). See also rat, subs. 1.
Rations, subs. (military and naval).—A
flogging.
Rat's-tail, subs. phr. (legal).—A
writ; a capias.
Rattle, subs. (old).—1. A dice-box
(B. E., c.1696; Grose, 1785).
Also (2 and 3) see verb. 1, and
Rattler, 2. Also (4) in pl. =
(a) the croup, and (b) the throat
rattle preceding death.
Verb. (colloquial).—Generic for rapid movement or noisy loquacity: hence (1) to talk or move quickly or noisily (B. E. and Grose); (2) to censure, confuse, or irritate. Whence, as subs. = (1) a clamour of words; (2) a scolding; (3) a lively talker: also (senses 1 and 2) rattling. Derivatives are numerous: Rattle-baby = a chattering child; rattle-bag (-bladder, -brain, -cap, -head, -pate, -scull, or rattler) = a flighty blab, a chatterbox (see Rattle-trap): cf. Scott, Redgauntlet, xi., "The Bishop's summoner that they called 'The Deil's Rattlebag'": also as adjs. = chattering, whimsical, giddy; rattled = confused or flurried; with a rattle = with a rush or spurt; to rattle up = to gather noisily; to rattle down = to disperse with a clatter; rattler = (1) a rattle-bag, supra; (2) a smart blow or sound scolding; (3) an out-and-out lie; (4) a coach, cab, or train; (5) a rattle-snake (Amer.); (6) in pl., the teeth, or grinders (q.v.); and (7) anything extra fine in size, value, &c.; rattling = (1) brisk; and (2) lively and conspicuous in pace, habit, manners, &c.; rattling-cove = a coach-*man; rattling-mumper = a carriage beggar (B. E.; Hall; Grose; Vaux). Also see Shake, Tats.
1592. Shakspeare, Mid. Night's Dream, v. 1, 102. The rattling tongue of saucy and audacious eloquence.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden [Grosart, Works, iii. 147]. They ratled him vp soundly, and told him if he would be conformable to the order of the prison so it was, otherwise hee should bee forc't.
1611. Cotgrave, Dict. [Halliwell]. Extreamely reviled, cruelly ratled, horribly railed on.
1613. Beaumont and Fletcher, Honest Man's Fortune, v. 3. If my time were not more precious . . . I would rattle thee, it may be beat thee.
