batten
1[ bat-n ]
/ ˈbæt n /
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verb (used without object)
to thrive by feeding; grow fat.
to feed gluttonously or greedily; glut oneself.
to thrive, prosper, or live in luxury, especially at the expense of others: robber barons who battened on poor workers.
verb (used with object)
to cause to thrive by or as if by feeding; fatten.
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Origin of batten
1First 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”; see better1
Other definitions for batten (2 of 4)
batten2
[ bat-n ]
/ ˈbæt n /
noun
verb (used with object)
Origin of batten
2OTHER WORDS FROM batten
bat·ten·er, nounOther definitions for batten (3 of 4)
batten3
[ bat-n ]
/ ˈbæt n /
noun
(in a loom) the swinging frame for holding and positioning the reed.
a part of the lay of a loom.
verb (used with object)
to beat (filling yarn) into place with the batten.
Origin of batten
3First recorded in 1825–35; alteration of French battant; see batten2
Other definitions for batten (4 of 4)
Batten
[ bat-n ]
/ ˈbæt n /
noun
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use batten in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for batten (1 of 3)
batten1
/ (ˈbætən) /
noun
verb
(tr) to furnish or strengthen with battens
batten down the hatches
- to use battens in nailing a tarpaulin over a hatch on a ship to make it secure
- to prepare for action, a crisis, etc
Derived forms of batten
battening, nounWord Origin for batten
C15: from French bâton stick; see baton
British Dictionary definitions for batten (2 of 3)
batten2
/ (ˈbætən) /
verb
(intr usually foll by on) to thrive, esp at the expense of someone elseto batten on the needy
Word Origin for batten
C16: probably from Old Norse batna to improve; related to Old Norse betr better 1, Old High German bazzen to get better
British Dictionary definitions for batten (3 of 3)
Batten
/ (ˈbætən) /
noun
Jean . 1909–82, New Zealand aviator: the first woman to fly single-handed from Australia to Britain (1935)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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