A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Rattle-box, n. [e.m.E. rattell, etc. a rattle or Rattill n. or v. Cf. also Eng. rattle-box (1780).] A box containing pebbles or the like, used to make a rattling noise. —1696 Caldwell P. 173.
One with a closse waggon goes through your streets dayly, to carrye off your ashes, with a rattle box in his hand to give them notice
