batten

1 of 3

verb (1)

bat·​ten ˈba-tᵊn 

battened; battening ˈbat-niŋ 

ˈba-tᵊn-iŋ

intransitive verb

1

a

: to grow fat

b

: to feed gluttonously

2

: to grow prosperous especially at the expense of another

—usually used with on

transitive verb

: fatten

batten

2 of 3

noun

1

a

British : a piece of lumber used especially for flooring

b

: a thin narrow strip of lumber used especially to seal or reinforce a joint

2

: a strip, bar, or support resembling or used similarly to a batten (as in a sail)

batten

3 of 3

verb (2)

battened; battening ˈbat-niŋ 

ˈba-tᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

1

: to furnish with battens

2

: to fasten with or as if with battens

—often used with down

intransitive verb

: to make one secure by or as if by battens

battening down for the hurricane

Phrases

batten down the hatches

: to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation

Did you know?

What Is the Origin of Batten

Batten comes from the name for an iron bar used to secure the covering of a hatchway on a ship, which was especially useful in preparation of stormy weather. The verb batten is used in variations of the phrase "batten down the hatches," which means "to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation." It winds back to Latin battuere, meaning "to beat."

Examples of batten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sheila stares downward, as though battening her emotional hatches. —Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein, New York Times, 13 June 2023

In summary, short-term volatility will persist while consumers batten down the hatches, but as always the future of retail is bright for those who are willing to evolve. —Natalie Berg, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023

Noun

The houses in town stuck to an old style of batten siding and wood treated to appear a tarry brown, but here and there signs of a modern influence showed through. —Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

Homey details like area rugs and board and batten could convince us to go anywhere in it. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

probably from Old Norse batna to improve; akin to Old English betera better

Noun

alteration of Middle English batent, bataunt finished board, from Anglo-French *bataunt, from present participle of batre to beat, from Latin battuere

First Known Use

Verb (1)

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1663, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing batten

• batten down
• batten down the hatches
• batten on

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Kids Definition

batten

1 of 2 noun

bat·​ten ˈbat-ᵊn 

1

: a thin narrow strip of lumber used especially to seal or strengthen a joint

2

: a strip, bar, or support like or used like a batten (as in a sail)

batten

2 of 2 verb

battened; battening

ˈbat-niŋ,

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to get ready especially for stormy weather by or as if by fastening everything down

—usually used with down