v. 1 a tr. strike repeatedly with hard blows, esp. so as to cause visible damage. b intr. (often foll. by against, at, etc.) strike repeated blows; pound heavily and insistently (batter at the door). 2 tr. (often in passive) a handle roughly, esp. over a long period. b censure or criticize severely. battered baby an infant that has suffered repeated violence from adults, esp. its parents. battered wife a wife subjected to repeated violence by her husband. battering-ram hist. a heavy beam, orig. with an end in the form of a carved ram's head, used in breaching fortifications. batterer n.
[ ME f. AF baterer f. OF batre beat f. L battuere ]