I. ˈbad. ə l, -at ə l noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English bataile, batel, from Old French bataille battle, battalion, from Late Latin battalia combat, alteration of battualia fencing exercises, from Latin battuere to beat, of Celtic origin; akin to Gaulish anda bata gladiator that fought while wearing a helmet without eye openings — more at bat
1. : a general fight or encounter between armies, ships of war, or aircraft : a general and prolonged military engagement : combat
the 4-month battle at Anzio
2. : a combat between two persons ; specifically : the combat by which disputes were legally decided — see trial by battle
3. : participation in armed conflict : warfare
and drunk delight of battle with my peers — Alfred Tennyson
4. archaic : a body of troops composing an army or one of its chief divisions ; especially : battalion
5. : an extended contest, struggle, or controversy (as between athletic teams or political parties) : war
the advocates of the old classical education have been … fighting a losing battle for over half a century — W.R.Inge
a battle for control of the railroad
6. obsolete : the main body of a military force especially as distinct from the van and rear
II. verb
( battled ; battled ; battling -d. ə liŋ, -t( ə )l- ; battles )
Etymology: Middle English batailen, from Middle French bataillier, from bataille
intransitive verb
1. : to engage in battle : fight
the king will bid you battle presently — Shakespeare
2. : to contend with full strength, vigor, craft, or other resources : struggle
battled like an avenging angel for the seamen's rights — Van Wyck Brooks
like one who having battled with the waves — L.G.White
transitive verb
1. : to engage in battle with : fight against
when the nobles rebelled the king battled them
2. : to engage in an extended contest, struggle, or controversy with : fight
for three years he battled factions of both parties — Oscar Handlin
they are battling tremendous odds — Henry Hewes
3. : to force, thrust, or drive by contending or resolute battling
a small boy battled his way through the crowd — Virginia Woolf
Synonyms: see contend
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English batailen, from Middle French bataillier to fortify, from Old French, from bataille fortifying tower, battle
archaic : to fortify with battlements
beneath the battled tower — Alfred Tennyson
IV. ˈbā-, ˈbe-
variant of baittle
V. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse beit pasture land — more at bait
transitive verb
obsolete : to feed well : nourish
intransitive verb
obsolete : to feed well : thrive
VI. like battle I transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably freq. of bat (II)
chiefly South & Midland : to beat (clothes) with a stick or paddle during laundering