See Also: batten(1)(dictionary)
batten(4)(dictionary)
batten(3)(dictionary)
batten(2)(dictionary)
batten(medicine)
batten 2, noun(dictionary)
batten 1, verb(dictionary)
Batten - Sailing(gambling)
Batten disease(medicine)
Batten Down - Sailing(gambling)

batten(4) (iou)



batten verb2. L16.

verb intrans. Improve in condition; esp. (of an animal) grow fat. L16.
Jonson It makes her fat you see. Shee battens with it.
verb intrans. Feed gluttonously on or upon. E17.
E. B. Browning The strong carnivorous eagle shall..batten deep Upon thy dusky liver.
verb intrans. fig. Thrive, prosper, esp. at the expense of another. (Foll. by on.) E17.
D. Lessing There are some unscrupulous firms..which batten on the ignorance of Africans about legal matters.
verb trans. Feed to advantage, fatten up. M17-L18.
Milton Battening our flocks with the fresh dews of night.