Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BAT'TAIL-OUS, a. [See Battle.]

Warlike; having the form or appearance of an army arrayed for battle; marshaled, as for an attack. – Milton. Fairfax.

BAT-TAL'IA, n. [Sp. batalla; It. battaglia, battle. See Battle.]

1. The order of battle; troops arrayed in their proper brigades, regiments, battalions, &c., as for action.
2. The main body of an army in array, distinguished from the wings. – Johnson.

BAT-TAL'ION, n. [Fr. bataillon. See Battle.]

A body of infantry, consisting of from 500 to 800 men; so called from being originally a body of men arrayed for battle. A battalion is generally a body of troops next below a regiment. Sometimes a battalion composes a regiment; more generally a regiment consists of two or more battalions. – Johnson. Encyc. Shakspeare uses the word for an army.

BAT-TAL'ION-ED, a.

Formed into battalions. – Barlow.

BAT'TEL, a. [See Batten.]

Fertile; fruitful. [Not used.] – Hooker.

BAT'TEL, n. [See Battle.]

In law, wager of battel, a species of trial for the decision of causes between parties. This species of trial is of high antiquity, among the rude military people of Europe. It was introduced into England by William, the Norman Conqueror, and used in three cases only: in the court martial, or court of chivalry or honor; in appeals of felony; and in issues joined upon a writ of right. The contest was had before the judges, on a piece of ground inclosed, and the combatants were bound to fight till the stars appeared, unless the death of one party or victory sooner decided the contest. It is no longer in use. – Blackstone.

BAT'TEL, n.

An account of the expenses of a student at Oxford.

BAT'TEL, v.i.

1. To grow fat. [Not in use.] [See Batten.]
2. To stand indebted in the college books at Oxford, for provisions and drink from the buttery. Hence a batteler answers to a sizer at Cambridge.

BAT'TEL-ER, or BAT'TLER, n.

A student at Oxford.

BAT'TE-MENT, n. [Fr.]

A beating; striking; impulse. [Not in use.] – Darwin, Zoon.

BAT'TEN, n.

A piece of board, or scantling, of a few inches in breadth, used in making doors and windows. It is not as broad as a pannel. – Encyc.

BAT'TEN, v.i.

To grow or become fat; to live in luxury, or to grow fat in ease and luxury. – Dryden. The pampered monarch battening in ease. – Garth.

BAT'TEN, v.t. [bat'n; Russ. botiayu. Qu. Ar. بَدَنَ badana, to be fat; or فَدَّنَ faddana, to fatten. See Fat.]

1. To fatten; to make fat; to make plump by plenteous feeding. – Milton.
2. To fertilize or enrich land. – Philips.

BAT'TEN, v.t.

To form with battens.

BAT'TEN-ED, pp.

1. Formed with battens.
2. Become fat.

BAT'TER, n. [from beat or batter.]

A mixture of several ingredients, as flour, eggs, salt, &c., beaten together with some liquor, used in cookery. – King.

BAT'TER, v.i.

To swell, bulge, or stand out, as a timber or side of a wall from its foundation. – Moxon.

BAT'TER, v.t. [Fr. battre; Sp. batir; It. battere; L. batuo, to beat. See Beat.]

1. To beat with successive blows; to beat with violence, so as to bruise, shake, or demolish; as, to batter a wall.
2. To wear or impair with beating; as, a battered pavement; a battered jade. – Dryden. Pope.
3. To attack with a battering ram.
4. To attack with heavy artillery, for the purpose of making a breach in a wall or rampart.

BAT'TER-ED, pp.

Beaten; bruised; broken; impaired by beating or wearing.

BAT'TER-ER, n.

One who batters or beats.

BAT'TER-ING, ppr.

Beating; dashing against; bruising or demolishing by beating.

BAT'TER-ING-RAM, n.

In antiquity, a military engine used to beat down the walls of besieged places. It was a large beam, with a head of iron somewhat resembling the head of a ram, whence its name. It was suspended by ropes in the middle to a beam which was supported by posts, and balanced so as to swing backward and forward, and was impelled by men against the wall. It was sometimes mounted on wheels.

BAT'TER-Y, n. [Fr. batterie; Sp. bateria; It. batteria. See Beat.]

1. The act of battering or beating.
2. The instrument of battering.
3. In the military art, a parapet thrown up to cover the gunners and others employed about them, from the enemy's shot, with the guns employed. Thus, to erect a battery, is to form the parapet and mount the guns. The term is applied also to a number of guns ranged in order for battering, and to mortars used for a like purpose. Cross batteries are two batteries which play athwart each other, forming an angle upon the object battered. Battery d'enfilade, is one which scours or sweeps the whole line or length. Battery en echarpe, is that which plays obliquely. Battery de revers, is that which plays upon the enemy's back. Camerade battery, is when several guns play at the same time upon one place. – Encyc.
4. In law, the unlawful beating of another. The least violence or the touching of another in anger is a battery. – Blackstone.
5. In electrical apparatus and experiments, a number of coated jars placed in such a manner, that they may be charged at the same time, and discharged in the same manner. This is called an electrical battery.
6. Galvanic battery, a pile or series of plates of copper and zink, or of any substances susceptible of galvanic action.

BAT'TING, n.

1. The management of a bat at play. – Mason.
2. Cotton or wool in masses prepared for quilts or bed-covers.

BAT'TISH, a. [from bat, an animal.]

Resembling a bat; as, a battish humor. – Vernon.