Definitions for battens

• Definition
• Anagrams (196)

battens bat·ten

Spelling: [bat-n]

IPA: /ˈbæt n/

Battens is a 7 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 8 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 10 points.

You can make 196 anagrams from letters in battens (abenstt).

Definitions for battens

noun

1. a small board or strip of wood used for various building purposes, as to cover joints between boards, reinforce certain doors, or supply a foundation for lathing.
2. a transverse iron or steel strip supporting the flooring strips of a metal fire escape.
3. Nautical. a thin strip of wood inserted in a sail to keep it flat. a thin, flat length of wood or metal used for various purposes, as to hold the tarpaulin covering a hatch in place.
4. Shipbuilding. a flexible strip of wood used for fairing the lines of a hull on the floor of a mold loft.
5. Theater. Also called pipe batten. a length of metal pipe hung from the gridiron, for suspending scenery or equipment, as drops, flats, or lighting units. a narrow strip of lumber for constructing, reinforcing, or joining flats. a similar strip attached to a drop to keep it flat or taut.
6. (in a loom) the swinging frame for holding and positioning the reed.
7. a part of the lay of a loom.
8. Jean ("The Garbo of the Skies") 1909–82, New Zealand aviator: first woman to make solo round-trip flight between England and Australia, 1934–35.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to thrive by or as if by feeding; fatten.
2. to furnish or bolster with battens.
3. Nautical. to cover (a hatch) so as to make watertight (usually followed by down).
4. Machinery. to secure (work) to a table or bed for a machining operation.
5. Building Trades. to join or assemble (a steel column or the like) with batten plates.
6. Theater. to suspend (scenery, stage lights, etc.) from a batten. to fasten a batten to (a flat or drop).
7. to beat (filling yarn) into place with the batten.

verb (used without object)

1. to thrive by feeding; grow fat.
2. to feed gluttonously or greedily; glut oneself.
3. to thrive, prosper, or live in luxury, especially at the expense of others:

Origin of battens

1585-95; apparently Old Norse batna to improve; cognate with Gothic gabatnan (bati change for the better + -na infinitive suffix). Compare Old English bet, Gothic batis, Old High German baz b

Examples for battens

I remembered where one batten had been removed, and where the other had been attacked by the axe.

He should make one stop in Michigan to batten it down (Wisconsin looks safe, as does Pennsylvania), and maybe New Hampshire.

After the stakes were set up we had to batten them together.

Scott ordered the men to batten down the curtains on the weather side.

But tell me, Oliver, have you heard of the accident to poor batten?

My purpose was to return on deck—strike off the batten—and set the grating free.

Pity the poor Zanesvillians who had to batten down the hatches to avoid being eaten by the 18 free-roaming Bengal tigers.

Assuredly not they, for they batten on corruption; they are the maggots not the bees of industry.

By the third motion the batten crowds this weft-thread into place.

Ivan was not of the type of man to press his popularity and batten upon it.