Dictionary

clatter

Pronunciation

Verb

clatter (clatters, present participle clattering; past and past participle clattered)

(intransitive) To make a rattling sound.
- 1906, Alfred Noyes, The Highwayman:
  Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
  And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
  He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
  But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
  Bess, the landlord's daughter,
  Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
(transitive) To cause to make a rattling noise.
- 1728, Jonathan Swift, A Dialogue between Mad Mullinix and Timothy
  You clatter still your brazen kettle.
- 1883, Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, Chapter V:
  When he came to Nottingham, he entered that part of the market where butchers stood, and took up his inn(2) in the best place he could find. Next, he opened his stall and spread his meat upon the bench, then, taking his cleaver and steel and clattering them together, he trolled aloud in merry tones:...
(intransitive) To chatter noisily or rapidly.
- I see thou dost but clatter.
(Northern England) To hit; to smack.
- 1988, Harry Enfield, Friday Night Live:
  "I can't watch it because I have to go outside and clatter someone in the nuts!”
- 2010, Gerald Hansen, Hand in the Till:
  “An Orange bitch clattered seven shades of shite out of her,” Padraig eagerly piped up.