batten

¹ American  

[bat-n] / ˈbæt 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.

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verb (used with object)

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

batten ² American  

[bat-n] / ˈbæt 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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish or bolster with battens.

2. Nautical. to cover (a hatch) so as to make watertight (usually followed bydown ).

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 American  

[bat-n] / ˈbæt n /

noun

1. (in a loom) the swinging frame for holding and positioning the reed.

2. a part of the lay of a loom.

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verb (used with object)

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

Batten ⁴ American  

[bat-n] / ˈbæt 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.

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batten ¹ British  

/ 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 called: dropper.  an upright part of a fence made of wood or other material, designed to keep wires at equal distances apart

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verb

1. (tr) to furnish or strengthen with battens

2. 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

Batten ² British  

/ ˈbætən /

noun

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

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batten ³ British  

/ ˈbætən /

verb

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

   to batten on the needy

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Other Word Forms

• battener noun
• battening noun

Etymology

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

Explanation

A batten is a strip of wood or metal that's used to provide structure to a roof or wall or as a support for a sail or hatch on a ship. On a boat, one flexible type of batten supports the shape of the mainsail, and another batten is a sturdy bar that keeps the hatch securely closed during a storm. As a verb, to batten is "to fasten securely," particularly using a batten. Batten down the hatches also has a figurative meaning — to get ready for difficult or tumultuous times ahead. Batten comes from baton and its Latin root, which means "stout staff or stick."

Example Sentences

Banks have looked to batten down the hatches in response.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

Warning signs such as these can cause investors to think it’s time to sell bonds and batten down the hatches.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

“If it’s a slower season, we batten the hatches and weather the storm,” Allen told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 8, 2025

When they are struggling, they batten down the hatches and go all 'Dogs of War'.

From BBC • Sep. 18, 2025

Ma headed out to bring in the other animals and batten down the house.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye