bead-rattler

English

Etymology

A reference to rosary beads.

Noun

bead-rattler (plural bead-rattlers)

  1. (derogatory) A Roman Catholic.
    • 1951, Frances Parkinson Keyes, Joy Street, page 236:
      And can't you smell that bacon? To think that a poor bead-rattler like me can't have any, on a Friday, no matter how early he's up, and that you might have all you wanted, if you'd only take the trouble to come and get it, you lazy heretics!
    • 2012, Jeff Torrington, Swing Hammer Swing!:
      A young bead-rattler it was, made the same mistake as yersel.
    • 2013, Stephen L. Antczak, James C. Bassett, Clockwork Fairy Tales: A Collection of Steampunk Fables:
      Seeing how ye're a native son of our beloved country, and ain't a bead rattler, I'm gonna be generous and set ya a task.
    • 2013, Charles Knepper, The Fleecing, page 25:
      He's a bead rattler, a papist.
    • 2017, Chris Brookmyre, Siege Mentality:
      I recall being impressed that you were able to translate it, though probably at the cost of the unreconstructed Rangers fans on the firm marking you down as a bead-rattler.
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