Standard Lemma guide

rattletrap

adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Mechanically unreliable or in disrepair.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • 2006, Paul McGeough, Bush 'palace' shielded from Iraqi storm, theage.com.au, August 26, http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/bush-palace-shielded-from-iraqi-storm/2006/08/25/1156012740594.html, All services for the biggest embassy in the world will operate independently from the rattletrap utilities of the Iraqi capital. (speaking of the new US Embassy in Baghdad)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A mechanical device, particularly an automobile, that is worn out, run down, or mechanically unreliable as indicated by noises it makes in operation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • Mom always worried about our safety in my friend's rattletrap. I told her not to worry, as it can't go fast enough to be dangerous.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: banger, bucket of bolts, beater, bucket of rust, clunker, crate, crock, flivver, gas guzzler, hooptie, jalopy, junker, lemon, old banger, rattletrap, rustbucket, shed, shitbox, shitpot, shitcan, shitbucket, tin Lizzie, wreck

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Any piece of miscellaneous equipment or junk.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A type of noisemaker in which the teeth of a gear repeatedly bend and release a stiff tongue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A person's mouth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, derogatory, slang

Examples

  • Shut your rattletrap!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: trap, yap

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From rattle + trap.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: таратайка (taratajka) — unreliable mechanical device
  • French: tacot — unreliable mechanical device
  • French: teuf-teuf — unreliable mechanical device
  • French: tas de ferraille — unreliable mechanical device
  • German: Klapperkiste — unreliable mechanical device
  • Italian: carcassa — unreliable mechanical device
  • Macedonian: крнтија (krntija) — unreliable mechanical device
  • Polish: szmelc — unreliable mechanical device
  • Russian: драндулет (drandulet) — unreliable mechanical device
  • Spanish: tartana — unreliable mechanical device