a1450 ( tr. Vegetius (Douce) f. 40 (MED) Þanne moot þe greet armure..wiþ swerd and hond battes of leed fyȝte hond at hond.
1781 (Royal Soc.) 71 181 (note) Beaten level..with their feet and a kind of hand-bat or beetle.
1822 W. Scott I. v. 117 We can keep their steel in order with good handbats.
2005 T. Collins in T. Collins et al. 42/2 The battledore..was a small hand bat.