batten

To batten is to grow fat by eating continuously.

(verb)

To eat large meals every day and gain weigh is an example of to batten.

The definition of batten means to become well fed or wealthy at the expense of other people.

(verb)

To steal from poor people in order to live a life of luxury is an example of to batten.

See batten in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Origin: var. of baton

transitive verb

intransitive verb

Origin: ON batna, improve < IE base *bhad-, good > better

transitive verb

to fatten up; overfeed

noun

in a loom, the movable frame that presses into place the threads of a woof

Origin: Fr battant, orig. prp. of battre < OFr: see batter

See batten in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb bat·tened, bat·ten·ing, bat·tens

verb, intransitive

To become fat.
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).

verb, transitive

To fatten; overfeed.

Origin:

Origin: Ultimately from Old Norse batna, to improve; see bhad- in Indo-European roots

noun

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

transitive verb bat·tened, bat·ten·ing, bat·tens

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

Origin:

Origin: Middle English batent

Origin: , from Old French bataunt, wooden strip, clapper

Origin: , from

Origin: present participle of batre, to beat; see batter¹

New Zealand aviator who was the first woman to fly a solo round trip between England and Australia (1935).

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