rattling
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Jolly, pleasant, well-appointed. "A RATTLING good spread" means an excellent repast, while a true friend is said to be a "RATTLING good fellow."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “rattling” mean?
Jolly, pleasant, well-appointed. "A RATTLING good spread" means an excellent repast, while a true friend is said to be a "RATTLING good fellow."
Is “rattling” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.