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

• water cocks
• watercolor
• watercolorist
• watercolorists
• watercolors
• waterpox
• waterpoxes
• water privilege
• water privileges
• waterproof
• waterproofed
• waterproofing
• waterproofings
• waterproofs
• water pump
• water pumps
• water purpie
• water purslane
• waterquake
• waterquakes
• water rail
• water rails
• water ram
• water rams
• water rat