rat-a-tat-tat exclamation 1noun 1forms 1 exclamation1 •A series of short, sharp taps, especially made by knocking on a door, beating a drum, or firing an automatic weapon. noun1 •A series of short, sharp taps, especially made by knocking on a door, beating a drum, or firing an automatic weapon.A man, the source of the lamentation, appears and as he walks across the stage, his cries transmute into song, and the slow snare drum rat-a-tat-tat of Ravel’s composition begins. — 2023 formsrat-a-tat-tats
