Definition of the word clatter

The word "clatter" comes from the Old Norse word "klathr," meaning noise or commotion. When the Vikings invaded England in the 9th century, they brought their language with them, which included this word. Over time, the English language absorbed this word and evolved it into "clatter." In the Middle English period (1100-1400), "clatren" and "clatteren" were commonly used words meaning to make loud noise or to clash loudly. The modern English form of the word, "clatter," first appeared in the late 15th century, and it referred specifically to the sound of dishes and utensils being rattled or banged together. Today, the word "clatter" continues to refer to loud, repetitive noises, such as the sound of rain on a tin roof or the jingling of keys in one's pocket. It can also be used metaphorically to describe an abundance or abundance of something, as in "a clatter of cars on the freeway." The Old Norse root of the word "klathr" can also be found in other English words, such as "cleat" (originally meaning a loud noise or clattering) and "cloth" (which may be derived from an Old Norse word for "wool" or "cloth"), reflecting the ways in which the Norse language enriched and shaped the English language over time.