batten¹ /batˈən/

1. A piece of sawn timber used for flooring, support of laths, etc
2. A strip of wood fastened across parallel boards, or used to fasten down hatches aboard ship, etc
3. A row of electric lamps or a strip of wood carrying them

To fasten or furnish with battens

battˈening noun

Battens forming a structure

batten down the hatches

1. To prepare for a crisis
2. Orig to secure the hatches on a ship against bad weather

batten² /batˈən/

1. To thrive at the expense of (with on)
2. To grow fat
3. To feed abundantly (on; lit and figurative)

To fatten

• pomander
• pomanders
• pomato
• pomatoes
• pomatum
• pomatums
• pombe
• pombes
• pome
• pome-citron
• pomegranate
• pomegranates
• pomelo
• pomelos
• Pomeranian
• pomeroy
• pomeroys
• pomes
• pome-water
• pomfret
• Pomfret cake
• pomfrets
• pomiculture
• pomicultures
• pomiferous