noun
rattler
RA-tuh-luh
noun
1
Informal American term for a rattlesnake.
"He spotted a rattler sunning itself on the trail."
2
British informal term for a train, especially a shabby or noisy one.
"They caught the last rattler home from the city."
How to Use Rattler
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually short for "rattlesnake" in American English; in British slang it can also mean a train.
UK vs US
The "train" sense is chiefly British; Americans will almost always read "rattler" as a rattlesnake.
Word Forms
rattlers plural, Rattlers plural
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He spotted a _____ sunning itself on the trail.