battue

American  

[ba-too, -tyoo, ba-ty] / bæˈtu, -ˈtju, baˈtü /

noun

Chiefly British.

• battues
  plural

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.

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battue British  

/ baty, bæˈtuː, -ˈtjuː /

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• battues
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of battue

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

battue battues

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 ● May 15, 2020

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 ● May 23, 2015

Having beaten none other than Federer on clay earlier this year, Isner could very well go deep in the draw at the French—and restore some much-needed American pride on the dreaded terre battue.

From Time ● May 23, 2012

Courier, for one, was never averse to what the French call terre battue.

From New York Times ● Apr. 5, 2012

To expect to win them over by pay, or retain them by discipline, was to hope to convert a poacher by inviting him to a battue.

From Tony Butler by Charles James Lever

September came, and brought some relief to those who were suffering in the inferno of provincial ennui; but this is only the purgatory to the Paradise of battues.

From The Young Duke by Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield

To-day he has his battues by proxy on sea, land, and from the air.

From Raemaekers' Cartoons With Accompanying Notes by Well-known English Writers by Louis Raemaekers

Who had not heard of the battues of Col.

From Picturesque Quebec : a sequel to Quebec past and present by Sir J. M. (James MacPherson) Le Moine

It was a clear, cold night, and there seemed every prospect of a beautiful day for the battues.

From Chateau and Country Life in France by Mary Alsop King Waddington

I climbed up when the battues were over.

From Chateau and Country Life in France by Mary Alsop King Waddington

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