v. (pres. 3 sg.)
'clatters'
(Modern English rickle)The etymology of this potentially imitative v. must remain somewhat obscure, but Scandinavian formations on an apparent root *xrik- provide compelling comparanda, if no direct etymon (so OED3, MED); thus cp. OIcel hrikþu (past 3 pl.) 'creak', attested only once in eddic poetry, on which a wk. v. *hrikja or *hrika is reconstructed. Mn Icel has hrikta 'creek', with which cp. Norw rickta and riksa and Sw dial rêk. These words have been further connected with MnE N dial rick, reck 'rattle, jingle, make a noice, chatter', cited by EDD from the 18c. and 19c.
PGmc Ancestor
?*xrik-
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
*hrika or *hrikja 'creek'
(ONP CV hrikta)
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
cp. Far ríkja, Icel hrikkja, hrikta, Norw rikta, riksa, Sw dial rêk
OE Cognate
Phonological and morphological markers
Summary category
D1
While MnE dial rickle is associated with N dial, and esp. Lan., the earliest attestation of the rare ME v. from c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40) is localised by LALME to Somerset.
Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus
WA 566