batten

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• Received-Pronunciation: /ˈbæt(ə)n/
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• Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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• General-American: băt'-n
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• General-American: /ˈbætən/
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• General-American: [-ɾən]
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• rhymes with -ætən
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• homophone: baton (one pronunciation)
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• CMU ARPABET: B AE1 T AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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The verb is derived from Middle English *battenen, *batnen, of North Germanic origin, probably from Old Norse batna (“to grow better, improve, recover”), from Proto-Germanic *batnaną (“to become better, improve”) (compare Old Norse bati (“advantage, improvement”), from Proto-Germanic *batô (“improvement, recovery”)), from *bataz (“good”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhed- (“good”). Compare battle (“(adjective) improving; fattening, nutritious; fertile, fruitful; (verb) to feed or nourish; to render (land, etc.) fertile or fruitful”) (obsolete). The adjective is probably derived from the verb. Cognates * Dutch baten (“to avail, benefit, profit”) * Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌽𐌰𐌽 (gabatnan, “to benefit, profit”) * Icelandic batna (“to improve, recover”) * Old English batian (“to get better, recover”)

English surname, pet form of Batt.

The noun is from Middle English bataunt, batent (“finished bar or board (as for panelling)”), from Old French batent (“a beating”), a noun use of the present participle form of batre (“to beat, hit, strike”), from Late Latin battere, the present active infinitive of battō (“to beat”), from Latin battuō (“(very rare) to beat, hit, strike”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bhedh-, *bhedhh2- (“to pierce; to stab”) or *bhat- (“to hit”), ultimately onomatopoeic. The verb is derived from the noun.

143 source translations are retained for this English entry.

• Arabic: فَسْقِيَّة (fasqiyya) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Arabic: فِسْقِيَّة (fisqiyya) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Bulgarian: дъска́ (dǎská) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Chinese Mandarin: 壓條 /压条 (yātiáo) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Chinese Mandarin: 壓枝 /压枝 (yāzhī) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Czech: lajsna — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Czech: lať — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Czech: lišta — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Czech: tes — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Czech: palubka — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Dutch: plint — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Esperanto: lato — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Finnish: lista — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Finnish: puulista — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Finnish: rima — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Finnish: soiro — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Finnish: tukipuu — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Finnish: vuorilista — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• French: volige — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Galician: pértega — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Galician: fieira — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• German: Dachlatte — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• German: Diele — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• German: Latte — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• German: Leiste — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• German: Schiie — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Hawaiian: ʻaho lolo — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Hebrew: שְׂחִיף — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Hungarian: deszka — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Hungarian: hézagtakaró — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Hungarian: hézagtakaró léc — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Hungarian: palló — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Hungarian: szegélyléc — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Hungarian: léc — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Italian: corrente — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Italian: lapazza — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Italian: tavolone — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Latvian: dēlis — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Macedonian: шти́ца (štíca) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Macedonian: ле́тва (létva) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Malay: kasau — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Malay: kayu tetulang — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Malay: papan lantai — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Manx: claare — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Māori: kaho — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Māori: pātene — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Māori: tūmatahuki — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Norwegian Bokmål: labank — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Norwegian Nynorsk: hekte — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Norwegian Nynorsk: taklekte — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Polish: łata — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Polish: listwa — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Romanian: liț — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Russian: доска́ (doská) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Russian: ла́та (láta) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Russian: дра́нка (dránka) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Russian: пла́нка (plánka) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Russian: ре́йка (réjka) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Russian: тёс (tjos) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Northern Sami: bielka — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Serbo-Croatian: ши̑ндра — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Serbo-Croatian: šȋndra — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Sicilian: lapazza — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Silesian: lajsta — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Spanish: alfarda — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Spanish: barreta — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Spanish: listón — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Spanish: ristrel — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Ubykh: қауар (kawar) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Ukrainian: тес (tes) — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Vilamovian: łȧjst — plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, etc.
• Finnish: putki — strip of wood holding a number of lamps; especially (theater), one used for illuminating a stage
• Finnish: tanko — strip of wood holding a number of lamps; especially (theater), one used for illuminating a stage
• Finnish: tanko — long bar affixed to the ceiling or fly system and used to support curtains, etc.
• Polish: sztankiet — long bar affixed to the ceiling or fly system and used to support curtains, etc.
• Bulgarian: ла́та (láta) — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Catalan: sabre — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Finnish: latta — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• German: Latte — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• German: Segellatte — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Italian: stecca — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Italian: serretta — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Macedonian: ле́тва (létva) — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Polish: listwa — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Russian: ла́та (láta) — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Russian: ла́ты (láty) — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Russian: ры́бина (rýbina) — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Spanish: filete — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Swedish: lattor — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Ukrainian: ла́та (láta) — long, narrow strip used for various purposes aboard a ship
• Bulgarian: ватал (vatal) — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Bulgarian: ватъл (vatǎl) — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Bulgarian: вътъл (vǎtǎl) — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Bulgarian: вътел (vǎtel) — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Finnish: lasta — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• German: Lade — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• German: Weberlade — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Kavalan: bRina — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Latin: spatha — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Malagasy: fanantana — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Navajo: bee ákʼíʼníltłishí — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Navajo: bee níkʼíʼníltłish — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Polish: bidło — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Romanian: vătală — movable bar of a loom — see also beater, lathe
• Bulgarian: угоявам (ugojavam) — to become better; to improve in condition
• Finnish: lihoa — to become better; to improve in condition
• Finnish: vahvistua — to become better; to improve in condition
• Finnish: voimistua — to become better; to improve in condition
• German: gedeihen — to become better; to improve in condition
• Russian: отъеда́ться (otʺjedátʹsja) — to become better; to improve in condition
• Russian: отъе́сться (otʺjéstʹsja) — to become better; to improve in condition
• Spanish: mejorar — to become better; to improve in condition
• Finnish: lihottaa — especially of animals: to improve in condition by feeding — see also fatten up
• German: aufpäppeln — especially of animals: to improve in condition by feeding — see also fatten up
• German: mästen — especially of animals: to improve in condition by feeding — see also fatten up
• Hungarian: hizlal — especially of animals: to improve in condition by feeding — see also fatten up
• Macedonian: го́и (gói) — especially of animals: to improve in condition by feeding — see also fatten up
• Russian: отка́рмливать (otkármlivatʹ) — especially of animals: to improve in condition by feeding — see also fatten up
• Russian: откорми́ть (otkormítʹ) — especially of animals: to improve in condition by feeding — see also fatten up
• Spanish: cebar — especially of animals: to improve in condition by feeding — see also fatten up
• Finnish: viljavoitua — of land, soil, etc.: to become fertile
• Finnish: vihannoida — of plants: to grow lush
• Finnish: lihoa — to prosper or thrive, especially at the expense of others
• German: gedeihen — to prosper or thrive, especially at the expense of others
• German: schmarotzen — to prosper or thrive, especially at the expense of others
• Russian: нажива́ться (naživátʹsja) — to prosper or thrive, especially at the expense of others
• Russian: нажи́ться (nažítʹsja) — to prosper or thrive, especially at the expense of others
• Spanish: aprovecharse — to prosper or thrive, especially at the expense of others
• Spanish: medrar — to prosper or thrive, especially at the expense of others
• Finnish: mässäillä — to gratify a morbid appetite or craving
• German: sich an etwas weiden — to gratify a morbid appetite or craving
• German: sich ergötzen — to gratify a morbid appetite or craving
• German: es sich an etwas gütlich tun — to gratify a morbid appetite or craving
• Czech: zabednit — to furnish (something) with battens
• Czech: zatlouct latěmi — to furnish (something) with battens
• Finnish: listoittaa — to furnish (something) with battens
• German: auslatten — to furnish (something) with battens
• Hungarian: bedeszkáz — to furnish (something) with battens
• Finnish: kiinnittää latoilla — to fasten or secure (a hatch, etc.) using battens
• German: Schotten dicht machen — to fasten or secure (a hatch, etc.) using battens
• Hungarian: bedeszkáz — to fasten or secure (a hatch, etc.) using battens
• Hungarian: léccel/deszkával megerősít/megszegez — to fasten or secure (a hatch, etc.) using battens
• Russian: задраивать (zadraivatʹ) — to fasten or secure (a hatch, etc.) using battens