▪ I. clattering, vbl. n.
(ˈklætərɪŋ)
[f. clatter v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb clatter.
1. Noise of the rapidly repeated collision of hard bodies; rattling.
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1515 Clatering of conacles þat kesten þo burdes. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 1634 Of hors and herneys noyse and claterynge Ther was. 1581 Savile Agric. (1622) 198 The clattering and running of charets and horsemen. 1665 Manley Grotius' Low-C. Warres 249 The noise and clattering of Arms in the Castle. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. I. 345 The clattering of his horse's hoofs. |
2. Chattering, rapid noisy talk. In mod.Sc., tattling.
| c 1400 Test. Love i. (1560) 276 b/1 After much clattering, there is mokell rowning. a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 41 No man thorugh his clateringe shulde desturbe the devine seruice of God. 1583 Fulke Defence vii. 302 Where then is your vain clattering of the mystery of antichrist? 1713 Swift Faggot, Constable with staff of peace, Should come and make their clatt'ring cease. 1737 Ramsay Scot. Prov. Ded., Few opportunities of common clattering. |
† 3. Applied to a company of choughs. Obs.
| c 1430 Lydg. Hors, Shepe, & G. (1822) 30 A clatering of chowhis A murmeracion of stares. |
▪ II. clattering, ppl. a.
(ˈklætərɪŋ)
[-ing2.]
1. That clatters or rattles rapidly.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 12501 Thurgh the claterand clowdes. 1599 T. M[oufet] Silkwormes 73 On clattring treddles while they roughly play. 1762 Falconer Shipwr. ii. 560 The clattering pumps with clanking strokes resound. 1869 J. Raven Ch. Bells Cambr. (1881) 104 Two of the most clattering pans that were ever dignified with the name of bells. |
2. Chattering, babbling. In mod.Sc., tattling.
| 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 37 b, Thy clatteryng tounge shalbe still. 1597 Jas. I Dæmonol. (1616) 134 (Jam.) The clattering report of a carling. 1821 J. Baillie Met. Leg., Ghost Fadon ii. 4 Dull owl, or clatt'ring jay. |