rattan (3)

[Malay, rótan.] 1. The commercial name for the stem of various species of the genus Calamus. They abound in Southern Asia in moist situations, and are used for making splints for chair seats and backs, hanks for rattle sails; cables, sometimes as much as 42 inches round; cords, withes, and walking-sticks; also for making splints for baskets and brooms, fish-weirs, hurdles, hoops, carriage-seats, and many other purposes. The larger species grow to a size of three inches diameter, and to a height of 100 feet. The Great Rattan is Calamus rudentum; the Ground Rattan, Rhaphis flabelliform is . 2. A cane or walking-stick formed of a rattan. "O'Brien went out, and returned with a dozen penny rattans, which he notched in the end."- Marryat : Peter Simple , ch. ix. răt-tan-ỹ, s . [RATANY.] răt-teen', s. [Fr. ratine.] Fabric : A kind of woolen stuff, quilled or twilled. "And Anthony shall court her in ratteen ."- Swift . răt-ten, s . [RATTAN (1).] răt-ten, v. t. [Prov. Eng. ratten a rat, the meaning thus being to do damage secretly, as rats do.] 1. Lit .: Το destroy or take away the tools or machinery of, for non-payment of contributions to a trades-union, or for any offense committed against the union or its rules, as by ratting or working for le than the usual wages. Rattening was one of the forms of organized terrorism of trades-unions in England. It was a ociated chiefly with Sheffield, but is now becoming rare even there. "An atrocious trade outrage has been perpetrated in Sheffield, a town long notorious for such crimes, there called rattening ." -The Guardian , Nov. 27, 1861. 2. Fig.: To injure or annoy in any way. "Perhaps we shall hear of literary rattening and picket ing."-London Daily News. răt-tër, s. [Eng.rat; -er.] 1. One whose busine is to catch rats; a rat catcher. 2. An animal, especially a terrier, which kills rats; as, He is a good ratter . 3. One who rats or apostatizes. "The ridicule on placemen ratters remains."-Mi Edge worth: Helen , ch. xxvii. *răt-ter-ý, s . [Eng. rat ; -ery .] Apostasy, tergiversation. "The rattery and scoundrel ism of public life." -Sydney Smith: Letters (1822). răt-tin-ět', s. [A dim in. from rateen (q. v.).) Fabric: A woolen stuff thinner than rateen. răt-ting, s. [Eng.rat; -ing.] 1. The act of setting a dog upon rats confined in a pit and betting as to the number it will kill in a given time. 2. The act of apostatizing, or forsaking union principles or practices. răt'-tle (1), *rat-el-en, *rat-ylle, v . i . & t . [A.S. hrætel an , preserved in hrætele , hratile , or hræ telwyrt =rattle wort (q. v.); cogn. with Dut. ratelen =to rattle; ratel =a rattle; Ger. ra eln to rattle; ra el a rattle. The word is of imitative origin; cf. rat - a - tat , .] IMG:content-0234.jpg:[graphic] IMG:content-0235.png:[blocks in formation] ." "He sent for him in a rage, and rattled him with a you sand traitors and villains for robbing his house." L'Estrange: Fables. 5. To confuse; to disconcert. ( U.S. Colloq .) răt-tle (2), v. t. [Formed from rattling , as though the latter were a pres. part. of a verb.] Naut.: To furnish with ratlines. To rattle down the shrouds or rigging : Naut.: To furnish with ratlines. "The ratlines are fitted to the shrouds as though the rigging had been rattled down by Anson's men."-London Daily Telegraph. marine; gō, pot, rattle răt-tle, 8. [RATTLE (1), v.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. A rapid succe ion of sharp, quick noises; a clatter. "The sharp rattle of the whirling phaeton." -Horsley: Sermons, vol. ii., ser. 23. 2. An instrument with which a rattling or clatter ing sound is made; spec if. applied to (1) An instrument consisting of a vibrating tongue and a rotating ratchet wheel, by which a sharp rattling sound is produced to make an alarm. Watch men were furnished with them to sound a rallying signal, and they are sometimes kept in private houses to enable the occupant to call the police or sound a fire alarm. (2) A child's toy made in a similar way, or consisting of a case of wicker-work or other material, and inclosing small pebbles or other objects which produce a rattling sound. 3. A peculiar rattling sound heard in the throat, immediately preceding and prognosticating death. Commonly called the Death-rattle. 4. A rapid succe ion of words; rapid and empty talk; chatter. "All this ado about the golden age is but an empty ra tle and frivolous conceit." - Hake will : Apology . *5. Rebuke. 3361 *2. A stammerer or stutterer. ( Huloet .) 3. A smart, heavy blow. ( Slang .) 4. A popular name for the rattlesnake.