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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1787

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RATANN, n. A drumming, a quick succession of taps, a tattoo.Ayr. 1787 Burns Letters (Ferguson) No. 125:
I did not well know . . . why my pulse beat such a furious ratann when I looked and fingered over her hand.

[The word seems to be a confusion of Eng., Fr. rataplan, id., with the form ratann, a malacca cane, freq. used as a switch.]

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