bat

Etymology 1

Dialectal variant (akin to dialectal Swedish natt-batta) of Middle English bakke, balke, of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse (leðr)blaka (literally “(leather) flapper”), from leðr + blaka (“to flap”). Compare Old Swedish natbakka, Old Danish nathbakkæ (literally “night-flapper”).

noun

1. Any of the flying mammals of the order Chiroptera, usually small and nocturnal, insectivorous or frugivorous.
   As well as being worth millions of dollars to the Texan agriculture industry, these mammals are worth millions of dollars to the state’s tourism industry. Texas is home to the world’s largest known bat colony (in Comal County), and the world’s largest urban bat colony (in Austin). Bat watching is a common activity, with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offering more bat-viewing sites than anywhere else in the US. 2012, Suemedha Sood, (bbc.co.uk) Travelwise: Texas love bats [sic]
2. (derogatory) An old woman.
   "Isn't it lovely?" I smiled and thought: "Yes it is. It's also a Blackbird, you silly old bat! 2000, Bill Oddie, Gripping Yarns, page 196

Etymology 2

From Middle English bat, batte, from Old English batt (“bat, club, cudgel”), probably of Celtic origin, compare Old Breton bath (“club, cudgel”) and modern Breton bazh (“swagger stick”), ultimately from a derivative of Proto-Indo-European *bʰedʰh₂- (“to strike, beat, pierce”), similar to the Gaulish source of Latin battuo (“I beat, pound”).

noun

1. A club made of wood or aluminium used for striking the ball in sports such as baseball, softball and cricket.
2. A turn at hitting the ball with a bat in a game.
   You've been in for ages. Can I have a bat now?
3. (two-up) The piece of wood on which the spinner places the coins and then uses for throwing them.
4. (mining) Shale or bituminous shale.
   bituminous shale ; which miners , if I mistake not , call bat 1799, Richard Kirwan, Geological Essays
5. A sheet of cotton used for filling quilts or comfortables; batting.
6. A part of a brick with one whole end.
7. A stroke; a sharp blow.
8. (UK, Scotland, dialect) A stroke of work.
9. (informal) Rate of motion; speed.
   On starting, The Nun led at a very slow pace for a quarter of a mile, when the Shrigley colt made running at a good bat. 1842, Sporting Magazine, page 251
   a vast host of fowl […] making at full bat for the North Sea. 1898, unknown author, Pall Mall Magazine
10. (US, slang, dated) A spree; a jollification.
11. (UK, Scotland, dialect) Manner; rate; condition; state of health.
12. (Kent, Sussex) A rough walking stick.

Etymology 3

table From Middle English baten (“to beat”), from Old French batre (“to beat”), from Late Latin battere, from Latin battuere; in modern English reinterpreted as a verbal derivative of Etymology 2. Compare batter, battery.

verb

1. (transitive) To hit with a bat or (figuratively) as if with a bat.
   He batted the ball away with a satisfying thwack.
   We batted a few ideas around.
2. (intransitive) To take a turn at hitting a ball with a bat in sports like cricket, baseball and softball, as opposed to fielding.
3. (intransitive) To strike or swipe as though with a bat.
   The cat batted at the toy.
4. (UK, dialect, obsolete) To bate or flutter, as a hawk.

Etymology 4

table Possibly a variant of bate.

verb

1. (transitive) To flutter
   bat one's eyelashes
2. (US, UK, dialect) To wink.
3. (intransitive, usually with 'around' or 'about') To flit quickly from place to place.
   I've spent all week batting around the country.

Etymology 5

Borrowed from French bât, from Old French bast, from Vulgar Latin *bastum, form of *bastāre (“to carry”), from Ancient Greek βαστάζω (bastázō, “to lift, carry”). Doublet of baton and baston.

noun

1. (obsolete) A packsaddle.

Etymology 6

noun

1. Dated form of baht (“Thai currency”).

Etymology 7

noun

1. (Caribbean, MLE) Clipping of batty (“buttocks or anus”).

Etymology 8

noun

1. (UK, dialect, obsolete) A child's shoe without a welt.
   The retailer who sells a little girl a pretty pair of shoes today instead of a pair of bats, is bound to sell that girl, when she grows up, a pair of stylish $3 or $4 shoes instead of her buying a pair of $1.98 bargain bats elsewhere. 1909, Boot and Shoe Recorder, volume 55, page 25
2. (UK, slang, obsolete) A boot that is badly made or in poor condition.