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noun

batten

BATN
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Batten (noun) means a long, narrow strip of wood or metal used to strengthen, fasten, or hold something in place, especially in construction or on a ship. Example: “They nailed a batten across the fence to stop it sagging.”

noun
1
A long, narrow strip of wood or metal used to strengthen, fasten, or hold something in place, especially in construction or on a ship.
"They nailed a batten across the fence to stop it sagging."
verb
1
To fasten or secure something firmly, typically with battens — especially in the phrase "batten down."
"The crew battened down the hatches before the storm hit."
2
Followed by "on": to grow fat or prosper, often at someone else's expense.
"Landlords battened on the desperation of tenants during the housing crisis."

How to use batten

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often seen today in "batten down the hatches" — to prepare firmly for trouble ahead.

Memory tip

"Batten down the hatches" is the phrase to learn; the plain noun and the "grow fat" verb sense are rare outside specialist or literary contexts.

Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
batten down the hatches
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Word forms

Plural
battens
Third person singular
battens
Past tense
battened
Comparative
more batten
Superlative
most batten
Archaic forms
battenest, battenedst, batteneth
Test yourself on “batten” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They nailed a _____ across the fence to stop it sagging.

Etymology

The verb traces to Old Norse batna, "to grow better or recover"; the wood-strip noun is a related but separate sense that developed in English carpentry and shipbuilding.

Origin: Old Norse

Synonyms

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batting secure

Related words

get close safe safety protect receive gain shut

Rhymes for batten

fatten flatten
See all rhymes for batten →

Frequently asked questions

What does “batten” mean?
The word “batten” means a long, narrow strip of wood or metal used to strengthen, fasten, or hold something in place, especially in construction or on a ship. In plain terms, most often seen today in "batten down the hatches" — to prepare firmly for trouble ahead.
How do you pronounce “batten”?
“Batten” is pronounced BATN (/ˈbætən/ in IPA).
How do you use “batten” in a sentence?
Here is “batten” used in a sentence: “They nailed a batten across the fence to stop it sagging.”
What part of speech is “batten”?
Depending on how it is used, “batten” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “batten” come from?
The word “batten” comes from Old Norse. The verb traces to Old Norse batna, "to grow better or recover"; the wood-strip noun is a related but separate sense that developed in English carpentry and shipbuilding.
How many meanings does “batten” have?
“Batten” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long, narrow strip of wood or metal used to strengthen, fasten, or hold something in place, especially in construction or on a ship.

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Words with old Norse origins

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