batten

Meaning

Noun

1. A plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, to provide a fixing point, to strengthen, or to prevent warping.
2. A strip of wood holding a number of lamps; especially (theater), one used for illuminating a stage; (by extension, also attributive) a long bar, usually metal, affixed to the ceiling or fly system and used to support curtains, scenery, etc.
3. A long, narrow strip, originally of wood but now also of fibreglass, metal, etc., used for various purposes aboard a ship; especially one attached to a mast or spar for protection, one holding down the edge of a tarpaulin covering a hatch to prevent water from entering the hatch, one inserted in a pocket sewn on a sail to keep it flat, or one from which a hammock is suspended.
4. The movable bar of a loom, which strikes home or closes the threads of a woof.

Verb

1. (obsolete) To cause (an animal, etc.) to become fat or thrive through plenteous feeding; to fatten.
2. (obsolete) To enrich or fertilize (land, soil, etc.).
3. To become better; to improve in condition; especially of animals, by feeding; to fatten up.
4. Of land, soil, etc.: to become fertile; also, of plants: to grow lush.
5. Followed by on: to eat greedily; to glut.
6. Followed by on: to prosper or thrive, especially at the expense of others.
7. To gloat at; to revel in.
8. To gratify a morbid appetite or craving.

Adj

Synonym of battle (“of grass or pasture: nutritious to cattle or sheep; of land (originally pastureland) or soil: fertile, fruitful”)

Verb

1. To furnish (something) with battens (noun sense 1).
2. Chiefly followed by down: to fasten or secure (a hatch, opening, etc.) using battens (noun sense 2.2).

Synonyms

lath

beater

pick

⛏️

batten down

board

secure

plank

sword

grow fat

batting

stave

fatten

fasten

ell

fillet

fix

forearm

lag

list

listing

molding

moulding

pack

panel

plump

puddle

race

reed

ribbon

🎀

rung

seal

🦭

set

shingle

slab

slat

slate

slay

starve

strip

sum

summarise

summarize

sum up

telescope

🔭

ticket

🎫

trim

weatherstrip

feed up

furring strip

small pole

cordonnier

capsulise

slab billet

sley

going part

abstract

lining boards

band

capsule

capsulize

cement

cleat

compact

concentrate

condense

consolidate

cram

cubit

eat

🍽️

Hyphenated as

bat‧ten

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbæt(ə)n/

Etymology

The noun is from Middle English bataunt, batent (“finished bar or board (as for panelling)”), from Old French batent (“a beating”), a noun use of the present participle form of batre (“to beat, hit, strike”), from Late Latin battere, the present active infinitive of battō (“to beat”), from Latin battuō (“(very rare) to beat, hit, strike”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰedʰ-, *bʰedʰh₂- (“to pierce; to stab”) or *bʰat- (“to hit”), ultimately onomatopoeic.
The verb is derived from the noun.