1. (adv.) In a flutter; with palpitation or quick succession of beats.

2. (n.) A light, repeated sound; a pattering, as of the rain.

arrhythmia barrage beat beating bump chink click clink clop clump clunk crump dance didder disquiet disquietude dithers drum drum music drumbeat drumfire drumming dull thud fidgetiness fidgets flap flick flicker flit flitter flop flump flutter heartbeat heartthrob heaving inquietude pad palpitant palpitation panting paradiddle pat patter pitter-patter plump plunk pop pound pounding pulsatile pulsating pulsation pulsative pulsatory pulse pulsing quaking quaver quavering quiver quivering rap rat-a-tat rat-tat rat-tat-tat rataplan rattattoo restlessness rhythm rhythmic roll rub-a-dub ruff ruffle shake shakes shaking shiver shivers shudder spatter splutter sputter staccato tap tat-tat tattoo tempo throb throbbing thrum thud thump thumping tick tinkle tom-tom tremble trembling tremor trepidation trepidity tunk twitter unrest waver