BATTEN

I. verb (~ed; ~ing) Etymology: probably from Old Norse batna to improve; akin to Old English betera better Date: circa 1540 intransitive verb 1. to grow fat, to feed gluttonously, to grow prosperous especially at the expense of another, transitive verb fatten , II. noun Etymology: alteration of Middle English batent, bataunt finished board, from Anglo-French *bataunt, from present participle of batre to beat, from Latin battuere Date: 1658 1. a piece of lumber used especially for flooring, a thin narrow strip of lumber used especially to seal or reinforce a joint, a strip, bar, or support resembling or used similarly to a ~ (as in a sail), III. verb (~ed; ~ing) Date: 1663 transitive verb to furnish with ~s, to fasten with or as if with ~s, intransitive verb to make one secure by or as if by ~s