bat·ten / ˈbatn/ • n. a long, flat strip of squared wood or metal used to hold something in place or as a fastening against a wall. ∎  a strip of wood or plastic used to stiffen and extend the leech of a sail.PHRASES: batten down the hatches ∎  prepare for a difficulty or crisis.bat·ten² • v. [intr.] (batten on) thrive or prosper at the expense of (someone): multinational monopolies batten on the working classes.

batten.
1. Vertical board in a door secured to horizontal boards called ledges (see Door).

2. Piece of squared timber used for flooring.

3. Small squared timbers used to provide fixings for tiles or slates on roofs, or to support laths for plastering.

4. Any thin, narrow strip of wood, e.g. used to cover joints between boards cladding a framed building.

batten2 †improve in condition XVI; grow fat, thrive (on) XVII. — ON. batna improve, f. Gmc. *bat-; see BETTER, -EN5.

batten1 strip of wood. XV. Earliest forms bata(u)nt, -ent. — OF. batant, sb. use of prp. of batre beat (see BATTERY).