The verb batten is used in variations of the phrase " batten down the hatches," which means "to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation." It winds back to Latin battuere, meaning "to beat."

A batten is most commonly a strip of solid material, historically wood [1] but can also be of plastic, metal, or fiberglass. Battens are variously used in construction, sailing, and other fields.

BATTEN meaning: 1. a long piece of wood, often attached to something to make that thing stronger 2. to fasten…. Learn more.

(usually foll by: on) to thrive, esp at the expense of someone else: to batten on the needy.

A batten is a long strip of wood that is fixed to something to strengthen it or to hold it firm. ...a batten to support the base timbers.

Batten definition: to thrive by feeding; grow fat.. See examples of BATTEN used in a sentence.

To furnish, fasten, or secure with battens. Battened down the hatch during the storm. To fasten with battens. To grow fat; thrive. To thrive and prosper, especially at another's expense. One of several …

Oct 8, 2025 · batten (third-person singular simple present battens, present participle battening, simple past and past participle battened) (transitive) To furnish (something) with battens (noun sense 1).

There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb batten, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

A batten is a strip of wood or metal that's used to provide structure to a roof or wall or as a support for a sail or hatch on a ship.