/ ˈbætn; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
( technical ) a long strip of wood that is used to keep other building materials in place on a wall or roof
■ verb
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IDIOMS
- batten down the hatches
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PHRASAL VERBS
- batten sth down
- batten on sb
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent.: from Old French batant , present participle (used as a noun) of batre to beat, from Latin battuere .