The verb batten is used in variations of the phrase " batten down the hatches," which means "to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation." It winds back to Latin battuere, meaning "to beat."

Phrasal verb batten on someone (Definition of batten from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

(usually foll by: on) to thrive, esp at the expense of someone else: to batten on the needy.

A batten is most commonly a strip of solid material, historically wood [1] but can also be of plastic, metal, or fiberglass. Battens are variously used in construction, sailing, and other fields.

A batten is a long strip of wood that is attached to something to strengthen it or to hold it firm. ...a batten to support the base timbers.

Batten definition: To become fat.

Figuratively, to thrive; prosper; live in ease and luxury, especially at the expense or to the detriment of others: with on, formerly also with: as, to batten on ill-gotten gains.

CLN3, often called juvenile Batten disease, is an ultra-rare, fatal, inherited disorder that primarily affects the nervous system and left untreated, is fatal. Children with CLN3 disease develop normally, even …

Jan 20, 2026 · batten (plural battens) (carpentry, construction) A plank or strip of wood, or several of such strips arranged side by side, used in construction to hold members of a structure together, to …

Definition of batten noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.