different between clatter vs caterwauling

English

Etymology

From Middle English clatren (“to make a rattling sound”), from Old English *clatrian (attested as the Late Old English gerund clatrung), of onomatopoeic origin.

The noun, derived from the verb, is first attested in the 14^th century.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?klæt?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?klæt?/
• Rhymes: -æt?(?)
• Hyphenation: clat?ter

Verb

clatter (third-person singular simple present clatters, present participle clattering, simple past and past participle clattered)

1. (intransitive) To make a rattling sound.
   • 1906, Alfred Noyes, The Highwayman:

     Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,

     And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;

     He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there

     But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,

     Bess, the landlord's daughter,

     Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

2. (transitive) To cause to make a rattling noise.
   • 1728, Jonathan Swift, A Dialogue between Mad Mullinix and Timothy

     You clatter still your brazen kettle.

   • 1883, Howard Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, Chapter V:

     When he came to Nottingham, he entered that part of the market where butchers stood, and took up his inn(2) in the best place he could find. Next, he opened his stall and spread his meat upon the bench, then, taking his cleaver and steel and clattering them together, he trolled aloud in merry tones:...

3. (intransitive) To chatter noisily or rapidly.
   • c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Again?t venemous tongues enpoy?oned with ?claunder and fal?e detractions &c.:

     But if that I knewe what his name hight,
     For clatering of me I would him ?one quight;
     For his fal?e lying, of that I ?pake never,
     I could make him ?hortly repent him forever: […]

   • I see thou dost but clatter.

4. (Northern England) To hit; to smack.
   • 1988, Harry Enfield, Friday Night Live:

     "I can't watch it because I have to go outside and clatter someone in the nuts!”

   • 2010, Gerald Hansen, Hand in the Till:

     “An Orange bitch clattered seven shades of shite out of her,” Padraig eagerly piped up.

Derived terms

• clatterer
• clattering
• clatteringly

Translations

Noun

clatter (plural clatters)

1. A rattling noise; a repetition of abrupt, sharp sounds.
2. A loud disturbance.
3. Noisy talk or chatter.

Synonyms

• commotion
• racket

Derived terms

• clattery

Translations

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “clatter”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• clatter in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?kæt???w?l??/

Verb

caterwauling

1. present participle of caterwaul

Noun

caterwauling (plural caterwaulings)

1. A sound that caterwauls.
   • 1918, Eleanor H. Porter, Oh, Money! Money!

     Now, I like a good tune what is a tune; but them caterwaulings and dirges that that chap Gray plays on that fiddle of his—gorry, Mr. Smith, I'd rather hear the old barn door at home squeak any day.