batten

bat·ten ¹  (btn)

v. bat·tened, bat·ten·ing, bat·tens

v.intr.

1. To become fat.

2. To thrive and prosper, especially at another's expense: "[She] battens like a leech on the lives of famous people, . . . a professional retailer of falsehoods" George F. Will.

v.tr.

To fatten; overfeed.

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[Ultimately from Old Norse batna, to improve; see bhad- in Indo-European roots.]

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bat·ten ²  (btn)

n.

1. Nautical

a. One of several flexible strips of wood or plastic placed in pockets at the outer edge of a sail to keep it flat.

b. A narrow strip of wood used to fasten down the edges of the material that covers hatches in foul weather.

2. Chiefly British A narrow strip of wood used especially for flooring.

tr.v. bat·tened, bat·ten·ing, bat·tens

Nautical To furnish, fasten, or secure with battens: battened down the hatch during the storm.

Idiom:

batten down the hatches

To prepare for an imminent disaster or emergency.

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[Middle English batent, from Old French bataunt, wooden strip, clapper, from present participle of batre, to beat; see batter¹.]

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batten ¹

Noun

1. a strip of wood used to strengthen something or make it secure

2. a strip of wood used for holding a tarpaulin in place over a hatch on a ship

Verb

to strengthen or fasten with battens [French bâton stick]

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batten ²

Verb

(foll. by on)to thrive at the expense of (someone else) [probably from Old Norse batna to improve]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	batten - stuffing made of rolls or sheets of cotton wool or synthetic fiber batting stuffing - padding put in mattresses and cushions and upholstered furniture
	2.	batten - a strip fixed to something to hold it firm strip - thin piece of wood or metal
Verb	1.	batten - furnish with battens; "batten ships" batten down, secure beef up, fortify, strengthen - make strong or stronger; "This exercise will strengthen your upper body"; "strengthen the relations between the two countries"
	2.	batten - secure with battens; "batten down a ship's hatches" beef up, fortify, strengthen - make strong or stronger; "This exercise will strengthen your upper body"; "strengthen the relations between the two countries"

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batten

verb (usually with down) fasten, unite, fix, secure, lock, bind, chain, connect, attach, seal, tighten, anchor, bolt, clamp down, affix, nail down, make firm, make fast, fasten down

Translations

batten [ˈbætn] n (CARPENTRY) → listón m;

(NAUT) → junquillo, sable m

batten down vt (NAUT): to batten down the hatches → atrancar las escotillas

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batten [ˈbætn] n (Carpentry) → latte f;

(Naut) (on sail) → latte de voile

batten down vt (Naut);

to batten down the hatches → fermer les écoutilles

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batten [ˈbætn] n → Leiste f, Latte f;

(Naut) (on sail) → Segellatte f

batten down vt (Naut);

to batten down the hatches → die Luken dicht machen

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batten [ˈbætən] n (CARPENTRY) → assicella, correntino;

(for flooring) → tavola per pavimenti;

(NAUT) → serretta: (on sail) → stecca

batten down vt (NAUT): to batten down the hatches → chiudere i boccaporti