Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense battens, present participle battening, past tense battened
1. countable noun
A batten is a long strip of wood that is fixed to something to strengthen it or to hold it firm.
...a batten to support the base timbers.
Synonyms: rod, bar, stick, stake More Synonyms of batten
2. verb [usually passive]
If something is battened in place, it is made secure by having battens fixed across it or being closed firmly.
The roof was never securely battened down. [beVERB-ed adverb/preposition]
...big pine shutters that could be battened against the noonday sun. [beVERB-ed adverb/preposition]
Synonyms: fasten, unite, fix, secure More Synonyms of batten
3. to batten down the hatches
Phrasal verbs:
See batten on
batten in British English1
(ˈbætən)
noun
1.
a sawn strip of wood used in building to cover joints, provide a fixing for tiles or slates, support lathing, etc
2.
a long narrow board used for flooring
3.
a narrow flat length of wood or plastic inserted in pockets of a sail to give it proper shape
4.
a lath used for holding a tarpaulin along the side of a raised hatch on a ship
5. theatre
a.
a row of lights
b.
the strip or bar supporting them
6. Also called: dropper New Zealand
an upright part of a fence made of wood or other material, designed to keep wires at equal distances apart
verb
7. (transitive)
to furnish or strengthen with battens
8. batten down the hatches
Derived forms
battening (ˈbattening)
noun
Word origin
C15: from French bâton stick; see baton
batten in British English2
(ˈbætən)
verb
(intransitive; usually foll byon)
to thrive, esp at the expense of someone else
to batten on poor people
Word origin
C16: probably from Old Norse batna to improve; related to Old Norse betrbetter1, Old High German bazzen to get better
Batten in British English
(ˈbætən)
noun
Jean. 1909–82, New Zealand aviator: the first woman to fly single-handed from Australia to Britain (1935)
batten in American English1
(ˈbætən)
noun
1.
a sawed strip of wood, flooring, etc.
2.
a strip of wood put over a seam between boards as a fastening or covering
3.
a short piece of wood or plastic inserted in a sail to keep it taut
4.
a strip of steel or wood used to fasten canvas over a ship's hatchways
verb transitive
5.
to fasten with battens
6.
to supply or strengthen with battens
Idioms:
batten down the hatches
Word origin
var. of baton
batten in American English2
(ˈbætən)
verb intransitive
1.
to grow fat; thrive
2.
to be well fed or wealthy at another's expense
verb transitive
3.
to fatten up; overfeed
Word origin
ON batna, improve < IE base *bhad-, good > better1
batten in American English3
(ˈbætən)
noun
in a loom, the movable frame that presses into place the threads of a woof
Word origin
Fr battant, orig. prp. of battre < OFr: see batter1
More idioms containing
batten
batten down the hatches
Examples of 'batten' in a sentence
batten
We get used to that, we endure, we harden, we batten down the hatches to protect our habits.
Gee, Maggie LOST CHILDREN
I don't want to say anything that will make you cry, so batten down the hatches and wait for my ship to come back.
Andrews, Virginia WEB OF DREAMS
Using the hook like a weaver's batten, he secured the heaving line under the two-inch rope that ran the length of the deck.
Lunnon-Wood, Mike LET NOT THE DEEP
All related terms of 'batten'
batten on
If you say that someone battens on a particular person or thing, you disapprove of the fact that they become successful by forming a close connection with that person or thing.
batten plate
(in structural design) a horizontal rectangular plate that is used to connect pairs of steel sections by being riveted or welded across them to form a composite section
Batten disease
a rare hereditary disease in which lipids accumulate in the nervous system, leading to mental deterioration, loss of mobility , and blindness that start in early childhood
batten down the hatches
to prepare for a difficult situation by doing everything you can to protect yourself
to batten down the hatches
If someone battens down the hatches , they prepare themselves so that they will be able to survive a coming difficulty or crisis .
(noun)
Definition
a strip of wood used for holding a tarpaulin in place over a hatch on a ship
Timber battens can be fixed to the wall.
Synonyms
rod
reinforced with steel rods
bar
a crowd throwing stones and iron bars
stick
Crowds armed with sticks and stones took to the streets.
stake
Drive in a stake before planting the tree.
rail
pole
The sign hung at the top of a large pole.
paling
shaft
a drive shaft
palisade
crosspiece
(verb)
Definition
to strengthen or fasten with battens
The roof was never securely battened down.
Synonyms
fasten
Use screws to fasten the shelf to the wall.
unite
fix
Fix the photo to the card using double-sided tape
secure
With a discreet click he secured the lock.
lock
Are you sure you locked the front door?
bind
Bind the ends of the card together with thread.
chain
connect
Connect the machine to the mains.
attach
Attach labels to things before you file them away.
seal
He sealed the envelope and put on a stamp.
tighten
I used my thumbnail to tighten the screw.
anchor
The driver's seatbelt was not properly anchored in the car.
bolt
He reminded her to lock and bolt the kitchen door behind her.
clamp down
affix
Complete the form and affix four tokens.
nail down
make firm
make fast
fasten down
phrasal verb
See batten on something or someone
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affix
Definition
to attach or fasten
Complete the form and affix four tokens.
Synonyms
attach,
add,
join,
stick on,
bind,
put on,
tag,
glue,
paste,
tack,
fasten,
annex,
append (formal),
subjoin
in the sense of anchor
The driver's seatbelt was not properly anchored in the car.
Synonyms
secure,
tie,
fix,
bind,
chain,
attach,
bolt,
fasten,
affix
in the sense of attach
Definition
to join, fasten, or connect
Attach labels to things before you file them away.