batman
Batman (noun) means historically, a soldier assigned as a personal servant or aide to a military officer. Example: “The colonel's batman kept his uniform pressed and his boots polished.”
How to Use Batman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an officer's personal attendant, or the DC Comics superhero.
Word Forms
batmanned past tense, batmanned past tense, batmen plural, batmans plural, Batmans plural, Batmen plural, batmans singular, batmans singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The colonel's _____ kept his uniform pressed and his boots polished.
Etymology
The military-servant sense comes from "bat" (a packsaddle, from French bât) + man; the comic-book character's name plays on the animal instead.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for batman
See all rhymes for batman →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “batman” mean?
The word “batman” means historically, a soldier assigned as a personal servant or aide to a military officer. In plain terms, either an officer's personal attendant, or the DC Comics superhero.
How do you pronounce “batman”?
“Batman” is pronounced BAT-muhn (/ˈbæt.mən/ in IPA).
How do you use “batman” in a sentence?
Here is “batman” used in a sentence: “The colonel's batman kept his uniform pressed and his boots polished.”
What is another word for “batman”?
Words with a similar meaning to “batman” include man and maund.
What part of speech is “batman”?
Depending on how it is used, “batman” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “batman” come from?
The word “batman” comes from French. The military-servant sense comes from "bat" (a packsaddle, from French bât) + man; the comic-book character's name plays on the animal instead.
Is “batman” a common word?
“Batman” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “batman” have?
“Batman” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, a soldier assigned as a personal servant or aide to a military officer.
What is the difference between a military "batman" and Batman the superhero?
A military batman was historically a soldier assigned as a personal servant or aide to an officer, a role associated mainly with the British and Commonwealth armies. Batman the superhero is a fictional character, the alter ego of Bruce Wayne. The two share only the spelling.
Is "batman" capitalized?
When it refers to the fictional superhero, "Batman" is capitalized as a proper name. The historical military role, "batman," is a common noun and is written in lowercase.
What did a batman do in the army?
A batman served as an officer's personal attendant, handling duties such as caring for equipment, uniforms, and daily needs. The role was common in the British and Commonwealth armed forces in earlier periods.
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