Bat·ten (b t n), Jean 1909-1982. New Zealand aviator who was the first woman to fly a solo round trip between England and Australia (1935). |
| 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. [Ultimately from Old Norse batna, to improve; see bhad- in Indo-European roots.] |
| 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 Idiom: Nautical To furnish, fasten, or secure with battens: battened down the hatch during the storm. batten down the hatches To prepare for an imminent disaster or emergency. [Middle English batent, from Old French bataunt, wooden strip, clapper, from present participle of batre, to beat; see batter1.] |
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