Find the word definition

Crossword clues for rattler

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
rattler
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ As a rule, however, a rattler avoids contact with people and will strike only if cornered.
▪ But on the trail Sheila rides there isn't a long horn or rattler in sight.
▪ Florida rattlers would rear up and bite a man too blind and tired to kick before reaching down.
▪ I study a run-over rattler I take to be dead until it suddenly slithers away.
▪ One lady was on her morning walk and picked up a rattler she saw on the road.
▪ The rattler is behaving very strangely, in other words.
▪ The third woman went to pull a weed in her front yard and a rattler bit her hand.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
rattler

Rattlesnake \Rat"tle*snake`\ (r[a^]t"t'l*sn[=a]k`), n. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of several species of venomous American snakes belonging to the genera Crotalus and Caudisona, or Sistrurus; sometimes also called rattler. 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 diamondback rattlesnake (also called diamondback rattler, and diamondback) of the South and East ( Crotalus adamanteus) and West ( Crotalus atrox), are the best known. See Illust. of Fang. Ground rattlesnake (Zo["o]l.), a small rattlesnake ( Caudisona miliaria 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 ( Prenanthes alba and Prenanthes 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.)

  1. A species of Agave ( Agave Virginica) growing in the Southern United States.

  2. An umbelliferous plant ( Eryngium yucc[ae]folium) with large bristly-fringed linear leaves.

  3. A composite plant, the blazing star ( Liatris squarrosa).

    Rattlesnake weed (Bot.), a plant of the composite genus Hieracium ( Hieracium venosum); -- probably so named from its spotted leaves. See also Snakeroot.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
rattler

mid-15c., "one who talks overmuch," agent noun from rattle (v.). From c.1300 as a surname. As short for rattlesnake, 1827.

Wiktionary
rattler

n. 1 (context chiefly US informal English) A rattlesnake. 2 A freight train or, (context chiefly British English), a decrepit passenger train. 3 Something which rattles.

WordNet
rattler
  1. n. pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken [syn: rattlesnake]

  2. a railroad train consisting of freight cars [syn: freight train]

Wikipedia
Rattler (comics)

Rattler (Gustav Krueger) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Captain America vol. 1 #310 (October 1985), created by writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Paul Neary. The name Rattler was also used by two Marvel comics characters from the Wild West era, both enemies of the Rawhide Kid. A fourth Rattler appeared in the Spider-Man newspaper comic strip, who gained power by being bitten by a snake and then treated with an experimental anti-venom.

Krueger, as Rattler, was given a long bionic tail that emits sonic shockwaves to mimic his reptile namesake. He first showed up as part of the Serpent Society, a team of snake-themed villains for hire. During their first mission they were opposed by Captain America who would have several run-ins with the Serpent Society. Rattler was one of the Society Members who sided with Viper when she took over the Serpent Society, but remained with the group after she was deposed. At one point he was part of the Thunderbolts, but returned to the Serpent Society. He remained a member when the Society was reorganized into Serpent Solutions.

Rattler (G.I. Joe)

The Cobra Rattler is a fictional VTOL attack aircraft from the universe of G.I. Joe.

Rattler (disambiguation)

A rattler is a member in a group of venomous snakes.

Rattler or rattlers may also refer to:

Rattler (song)

Rattler is an Australian song written by Bruce Woodley and recorded by The Seekers.

Cover versions of the song were recorded by the [Dream Merchants] (A South African Duo with Billy Andrews and Billy Forrest)as well as British pop groups Herman's Hermits and Cliff Richard and the Shadows as well as by Lulu.

Usage examples of "rattler".

But there certainly grew up from that moment a feeling among such men as Erle and Rattler that care was necessary, that the House, taken as a whole, was not in a condition to be manipulated with easy freedom, and that Sir Orlando must be made to understand that he was not strong enough to depend on such jauntiness.

And certain members of the Government, Phineas Finn, for instance, Barrington Erle, and Mr Rattler were on the committee of the club.

A gut-roar came from the Rattler as it digested, its ceramo-ribs contracting with pops and groans as it forced navvys into its innards.

So their band had waited until the Rattler was fully distended, lying like a gorged tube of scratched aluminum, beginning to excrete ingots of ore.

Staring at the gorging Rattler, Killeen felt the old struggle within himself.

To find a Rattler obliviously doing its job in this surrounding undercut their unvoiced dream.

Even in the first moment of glimpsing the Rattler he had thought it blandly evil, a scene without any possible protagonist.

The navvys being eaten as they cried for their distant protector were no less an ancient enemy than the Rattler which digested them.

Ledroff had summoned up the firm rhythms to get them quickly away from the Rattler, damping fears.

The Rattler moved with a coiling and recoiling motion, treads grinding beneath.

He knew the Rattler would only later discover she was not metal throughout, like a mechthing.

The Rattler undoubtedly saw them all as a covey of defenseless metal-sheeted beings and mistook them for free sources of cheap ore.

The four-sided monument of chromed faces and ornate designs must have told the Rattler to come no closer.

Mostly Bishops and Rooks, they had been frightened by the Duster that had flown them and the commandeered Rattler that had brought them here from the landing field.

Mr Rattler had gone back to his old office at the Treasury and Mr Roby had been forced to content himself with the Secretaryship at the Admiralty.