I. ˈba-tər verb
Etymology: Middle English bateren, probably frequentative of batten to bat, from bat
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to beat with successive blows so as to bruise, shatter, or demolish
b. : bombard
2. : to subject to strong, overwhelming, or repeated attack
batter ed by forces of change
3. : to wear or damage by hard usage or blows
a batter ed old hat
intransitive verb
: to strike heavily and repeatedly : beat
Synonyms: see maim
• bat·ter·er -tər-ər noun
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English bater, probably from bateren
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a mixture consisting chiefly of flour, egg, and milk or water and being thin enough to pour or drop from a spoon
b. : a mixture (as of flour and egg) used as a coating for food that is to be fried
2. : an instance of battering
III. transitive verb
Date: 1973
: to coat (food) with batter for frying
IV. noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1743
: a receding upward slope of the outer face of a structure
V. transitive verb
Date: circa 1882
: to give a receding upward slope to (as a wall)
VI. noun
Date: 1773
: one that bats ; especially : the player whose turn it is to bat