BATTER

v. 1 beat, hit, strike, clout, belabour, pound, pummel or pommel, pelt, bash, smite, thrash, Colloq wallop, clobber He was battered till he was black and blue 2 bombard, attack, assault Battering by the cannons finally breached the wall of the fort 3 maltreat, mistreat, ill-treat, abuse; maul, bruise, harm, mangle, disfigure The police report an increase in complaints about battered wives and children