Morgan Rattler

Posted by Bob on February 27, 2006

In Reply to: Bobby dazzler? posted by Gary Martin on February 27, 2006

: : : Bobby dazzler? Exactly what does it mean & where does it come from?

: : See link below for a possible lead for you.

: That link points to a reference to a 1977 TV series. Bobby dazzler is much older than that. It means 'a striking or exciting person, especially in their dress'. I believe it to be from the northen counties of England. It is certainly still used here in Yorkshire. The OED has:

: "1866 - Morgan-rattlers... In Cornwall the word is frequently applied to things that are particularly striking or excellent of their kind. What a Lancashire man would sometimes call a 'regular bobby-dazzler', a Cornishman would call a 'regular morgan-rattler'."

: Morgan rattler is a new one on me though. I visit Cornwall frequently and I've never heard it there, or anywhere.

I googled a bit more about "Morgan Rattler" which turns out to be a venerable fiddler's tune from the North, but migrating to Scotland and Ireland and the U.S. There's even a definition ("a loaded club") at www.ibiblio.org