rattle
v.v. to make a series of short, sharp knocking sounds. You can also use it to describe making someone feel nervous or worried.
v. to emit a rapid succession of short, percussive sounds through vibration or movement; figuratively, to disconcert or unnerve someone.
The old windows rattle whenever a large truck drives past.
The sudden change in the exam format seemed to rattle the students, who had prepared for a different style of question.
Loose stones began to rattle against the underside of the car as we transitioned from the paved highway to the neglected mountain track.
From Middle English ratelen, of uncertain origin; perhaps borrowed from Middle Dutch ratelen or of native origin related to Old English hratele, hrætele (“a plant known for its rustling or rattling sound”), ultimately imitative. The noun (c. 1500) is from the verb.
From Arabic رَطْل (raṭl), variant of classical رِطْل (riṭl), ultimately from Ancient Greek λίτρα (lítra). Doublet of liter.
Can be used intransitively for the sound or transitively when meaning to make someone nervous.
The noise rattled to me.The noise rattled me.When used to mean 'make nervous', the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without a preposition.