batten

¹

[ bat-n ]

verb (used without object)

1. to thrive by feeding; grow fat.
2. to feed gluttonously or greedily; glut oneself.
3. to thrive, prosper, or live in luxury, especially at the expense of others:

   robber barons who battened on poor workers.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to thrive by or as if by feeding; fatten.

batten

²

[ bat-n ]

noun

1. a small board or strip of wood used for various building purposes, as to cover joints between boards, reinforce certain doors, or supply a foundation for lathing.
2. a transverse iron or steel strip supporting the flooring strips of a metal fire escape.
3. Nautical.
   1. a thin strip of wood inserted in a sail to keep it flat.
   2. a thin, flat length of wood or metal used for various purposes, as to hold the tarpaulin covering a hatch in place.
4. Shipbuilding. a flexible strip of wood used for fairing the lines of a hull on the floor of a mold loft.
5. Theater.
   1. Also called pipe batten. a length of metal pipe hung from the gridiron, for suspending scenery or equipment, as drops, flats, or lighting units.
   2. a narrow strip of lumber for constructing, reinforcing, or joining flats.
   3. a similar strip attached to a drop to keep it flat or taut.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish or bolster with battens.
2. Nautical. to cover (a hatch) so as to make watertight (usually followed by down ).
3. Machinery. to secure (work) to a table or bed for a machining operation.
4. Building Trades. to join or assemble (a steel column or the like) with batten plates.
5. Theater.
   1. to suspend (scenery, stage lights, etc.) from a batten.
   2. to fasten a batten to (a flat or drop).

batten

³

[ bat-n ]

noun

1. (in a loom) the swinging frame for holding and positioning the reed.
2. a part of the lay of a loom.

verb (used with object)

1. to beat (filling yarn) into place with the batten.

Batten

⁴

[ bat-n ]

noun

1. Jean The Garbo of the Skies, 1909–82, New Zealand aviator: first woman to make solo round-trip flight between England and Australia, 1934–35.

batten

¹

/ ˈbætən /

verb

1. intrusually foll byon to thrive, esp at the expense of someone else

   to batten on the needy

Batten

²

/ ˈbætən /

noun

1. BattenJean19091982FNew ZealandTRAVEL AND EXPLORATION: aviator Jean . 1909–82, New Zealand aviator: the first woman to fly single-handed from Australia to Britain (1935)

batten

³

/ ˈbætən /

noun

1. a sawn strip of wood used in building to cover joints, provide a fixing for tiles or slates, support lathing, etc
2. a long narrow board used for flooring
3. a narrow flat length of wood or plastic inserted in pockets of a sail to give it proper shape
4. a lath used for holding a tarpaulin along the side of a raised hatch on a ship
5. theatre
   1. a row of lights
   2. the strip or bar supporting them
6. Also calleddropper an upright part of a fence made of wood or other material, designed to keep wires at equal distances apart

verb

1. tr to furnish or strengthen with battens
2. batten down the hatches
   1. to use battens in nailing a tarpaulin over a hatch on a ship to make it secure
   2. to prepare for action, a crisis, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈbattening, noun

Other Words From

• bat·ten·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of batten¹

First recorded in 1585–95; apparently from Old Norse batna “to improve”; cognate with Gothic gabatnan “to benefit, profit”; compare Old English bet, Gothic batis, Old High German baz “better”; better ¹( def )

Origin of batten²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bataunt, batent “finished board,” from Old French batant, noun use of past participle of batre “to beat”; bate ², -ant

Origin of batten³

First recorded in 1825–35; alteration of French battant; batten ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of batten¹

C16: probably from Old Norse batna to improve; related to Old Norse betr better ¹, Old High German bazzen to get better

Origin of batten²

C15: from French bâton stick; see baton

Example Sentences

It was a gloomy evening in April 2021, and I was battening down my mental hatches against whispers insisting the persistent full-body ache I’d begun to feel was the infamous new coronavirus.

From Popular-Science

As a foreign correspondent in Taiwan, I watched in shock as Taipei battened down the hatches during a recent drill.

From Quartz

We’re in a very different space at IGLTA than a year ago when we were battening down the hatches and not really knowing what was going to happen.

From Washington Blade

The stretchy, nose-high collar helps batten down the hatches when things get windy.

From Outside Online

He should make one stop in Michigan to batten it down (Wisconsin looks safe, as does Pennsylvania), and maybe New Hampshire.

From The Daily Beast

Pity the poor Zanesvillians who had to batten down the hatches to avoid being eaten by the 18 free-roaming Bengal tigers.

From The Daily Beast

Home, there hear that my Lady Batten had given my wife a visit (the first that ever she made her), which pleased me exceedingly.

From Project Gutenberg

Then to supper at Sir W. Batten's again, where my wife by chance fell down and hurt her knees exceedingly.

From Project Gutenberg

Here we sat late, and so home to bed, having got my Lady Batten to give me a spoonful of honey for my cold.

From Project Gutenberg

Rider told the first of his own knowledge; and both he and Sir W. Batten confirm the last.

From Project Gutenberg

All the morning at the office, Sir W. Batten being come to town last night.

From Project Gutenberg