battue

[ ba-too, -tyoo; French ba-ty ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

, plural bat·tues [ba-, tooz, -, tyooz, b, a, -, ty].

1. Hunting.
   1. the beating or driving of game from cover toward a stationary hunter.
   2. a hunt or hunting party using this method of securing game.
2. undiscriminating slaughter of defenseless or unresisting crowds.

battue

/ baty; -ˈtjuː; bæˈtuː /

noun

1. the beating of woodland or cover to force game to flee in the direction of hunters
2. 1. an organized shooting party using this method
   2. the game disturbed or shot by this method
3. indiscriminate slaughter, as of a defenceless crowd

Word History and Origins

Origin of battue¹

1810–20; < French, noun use of feminine of battu, past participle of battre < Latin battuere to beat. See battuta, battle ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of battue¹

C19: from French, feminine of battu beaten, from battre to beat, from Latin battuere

Example Sentences

As the only Grand Slam contested on clay — in this case, the so-called terre battue, which is essentially crushed brick — the French Open stands apart from Wimbledon and the Australian and U.S.

From Washington Post

With every gust of wind, bits of the court lift into the air and spread the terre battue beyond its intended confines, looking like a faint coat of rust.

From New York Times

The temple of terre battue was then simply called Le Court Central.

From New York Times

What matters most, of course, is that everyone emerges safe and sound from 15 days of watching forehands, backhands and long, sweeping slides in the terre battue.

From New York Times

We outline whom they face first, how far they might go, and what would be a good French Open result for players from a nation that has traditionally struggled on the terre battue.

From The Guardian