[1700–10; cf. NL batellae (1636), batillī (1557), prob. to be identified with late ME batell (in AL), taken to mean “charge for provisions”; of obscure orig.; kinship with Scots,N England dial. ba(i)ttle rich, fattening (of pasture) is dubious]This word is first recorded in the period 1700–10. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: camera, envelope, hump, marquise, sliding scale