child-battering

American  

[chahyld-bat-er-ing] / ˈtʃaɪldˌbæt ər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the physical abuse of a child by a parent or guardian, as by beating.

---

Other Word Forms

• child-batterer noun

Etymology

Origin of child-battering

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

To the extent that multiple personalities are understood, it seems that Sybil's mind began creating alternative personages as a defense against her mother, who was a sadistic, child-battering schizophrenic.

From Time Magazine Archive