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crepitate (KREP-i-tayt) - v., to make a crackling or rattling sound; crackle.
Examples given include as salt in fire or during calcination, or a rattlesnake's use of its crepitaculum (the obscure technical name for its rattle). From these, one sees that the crackle is more of a small explosion sort of sound, rather than someone's knuckles. Borrowed around 1620 from Latin crepitātus, past participle of crepitāre, to rattle, rustle, chatter, frequentative of crepāre, to crack.
---L.
Examples given include as salt in fire or during calcination, or a rattlesnake's use of its crepitaculum (the obscure technical name for its rattle). From these, one sees that the crackle is more of a small explosion sort of sound, rather than someone's knuckles. Borrowed around 1620 from Latin crepitātus, past participle of crepitāre, to rattle, rustle, chatter, frequentative of crepāre, to crack.
---L.
