rat-a-tat

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rat-a-tat / ˈrat ə ˌtat/ (also rat-a-tat-tat / ˌrat ə ˌtat ˈtat/ or rat-tat or rat-tat-tat) • n. a rapping sound (used esp. in reference to a sequence of two or three knocks on a door or the sound of gunfire).