batten

verb (1)

bat·ten | \ ˈba-tᵊn

battened; battening\ ˈbat-niŋ

, ˈba-tᵊn-iŋ \

Definition of batten

(Entry 1 of 3)

intransitive verb

1a : to grow fat

b : to feed gluttonously

2 : to grow prosperous especially at the expense of another —usually used with on

transitive verb

: fatten

batten

noun

Definition of batten (Entry 2 of 3)

1a British : a piece of lumber used especially for flooring

b : a thin narrow strip of lumber used especially to seal or reinforce a joint

2 : a strip, bar, or support resembling or used similarly to a batten (as in a sail)

batten

verb (2)

battened; battening\ ˈbat-niŋ

, ˈba-tᵊn-iŋ \

Definition of batten (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to furnish with battens

2 : to fasten with or as if with battens —often used with down

intransitive verb

: to make one secure by or as if by battens battening down for the hurricane

batten down the hatches

: to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation

What Is the Origin of Batten

The origin of today's word is believed to be the Old Norse verb batna, meaning "to improve." Batna is akin to Old Norse betr and Old English betera, from which we get the modern English word better. Batten entered the English language in the 1500s, with the meaning "to improve," and was especially used in the sense of improving or thriving by feeding. It is not related to the verb batten (³batten) found in expressions such as "batten down the hatches." This latter batten comes from the noun batten, which denotes, among other things, an iron bar used to secure the covering of a hatchway on a ship. This batten has Latinate rather than Germanic origins and can be traced back through Anglo-French batre to the Latin verb battuere ("to beat").

History and Etymology for batten

Verb (1)

probably from Old Norse batna to improve; akin to Old English betera better

Noun

alteration of Middle English batent, bataunt finished board, from Anglo-French *bataunt, from present participle of batre to beat, from Latin battuere

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More Definitions for batten

batten

noun

English Language Learners Definition of batten

: a long thin piece of wood that is used to connect and support other pieces of wood

See the full definition for batten in the English Language Learners Dictionary

batten

verb

bat·ten | \ ˈba-tᵊn

battened; battening

Kids Definition of batten

1 : to secure by or as if by fastening —often used with down Everything on the ship's deck was battened down.

2 : to prepare for possible trouble or difficulty —often used with down People battened down in preparation for winter.

batten

Definition of batten

What Is the Origin of Batten

First Known Use of batten

History and Etymology for batten

English Language Learners Definition of batten

Kids Definition of batten

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