batter1

[bat-er] /ˈbæt ər/
verb (used with object)
1.
to beat persistently or hard; pound repeatedly.
2.
to damage by beating or hard usage:
Rough roads had battered the car. High winds were battering the coast.
verb (used without object)
3.
to deal heavy, repeated blows; pound steadily:
continuing to batter at the front door.
noun
4.
Printing.
  1. a damaged area on the face of type or plate.
  2. the resulting defect in print.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English bateren, probably < Middle French, Old French batre to beat (see bate2), with the infinitive ending identified with -er6; compare Anglo-French baterer
Synonyms
1. belabor, smite, pelt. 2. bruise, wound; smash, shatter, shiver; destroy, ruin.

batter2

[bat-er] /ˈbæt ər/
noun
1.
a mixture of flour, milk or water, eggs, etc., beaten together for use in cookery.
verb (used with object)
2.
to coat with batter.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English bat(o)ur, bat(e)re, perhaps < Anglo-French bature, Old French bat(e)ure act of beating (bat(re) to beat (see bate2) + -eure < *-ātūra; see -ate2, -ure), reinforced by batter1

batter3

[bat-er] /ˈbæt ər/
noun
1.
a player who swings a bat or whose turn it is to bat, as in baseball or cricket.
Origin
1765-75; bat1 + -er1

batter4

[bat-er] /ˈbæt ər/
verb (used without object)
1.
(of the face of a wall or the like) to slope backward and upward.
noun
2.
a backward and upward slope of the face of a wall or the like.
Origin
1540-50; of obscure origin
Examples from the web for batter
  • Fold the flour mixture into the batter until combined.
  • Pour baking powder batter into mold and level the surface.
  • Place baking soda in a small dish, stir in vinegar and add to batter with machine running.
  • Drop the batter onto the baking sheets by tablespoonfuls, about two inches apart.
  • Beat together the eggs and mix into the flour mixture, adding the milk little by little until you have a batter.
  • Into the bowl sift together the flour, the baking powder, and the salt and combine the batter well.
  • Spread half of banana batter in cake pan and sprinkle with half of chocolate mixture.
  • Spread the batter with the back of the spoon until it makes a thin circle three inches across.
  • Drain and dry them before dipping them first in the batter and then in the coconut mixed with the cornflakes.
  • For best results, the pan must be flat on the bottom and the batter swirled to the edge.
British Dictionary definitions for batter

batter1

/ˈbætə/
verb
1.
to hit (someone or something) repeatedly using heavy blows, as with a club or other heavy instrument; beat heavily
2.
(transitive; often passive) to damage or injure, as by blows, heavy wear, etc
3.
(transitive) (social welfare) to subject (a person, esp a close relative living in the same house) to repeated physical violence
4.
(transitive) to subject (a person, opinion, or theory) to harsh criticism; attack
Word Origin
C14 bateren, probably from batten to bat1

batter2

/ˈbætə/
noun
1.
a mixture of flour, eggs, and milk, used to make cakes, pancakes, etc, and to coat certain foods before frying
Word Origin
C15 bater, probably from bateren to batter1

batter3

/ˈbætə/
noun
1.
(sport) a player who bats

batter4

/ˈbætə/
noun
1.
the slope of the face of a wall that recedes gradually backwards and upwards
verb
2.
(intransitive) to have such a slope
Word Origin
C16 (vb: to incline): of uncertain origin

batter5

/ˈbætə/
noun
1.
a spree or debauch
Word Origin
C19: of unknown origin
Word Origin and History for batter
v.

"strike repeatedly, beat violently and rapidly," early 14c., from Old French batre "to beat, strike" (11c., Modern French battre "to beat, to strike"), from Latin battuere "to beat, strike," an old word in Latin, but almost certainly borrowed from Gaulish, from PIE root *bhau- "to strike" (cf. Welsh bathu "beat;" Old English beadu "battle," beatan "to beat," bytl "hammer, mallet"). Began to be widely used 1962 in reference to domestic abuse. Related: Battered; battering. Battering-ram is an ancient weapon (Latin aries), but the word attested only from 1610s.

n.

"flour, eggs, and milk beaten together," late 14c., from Old French batteure "a beating," from Latin battuere "to beat, knock" (see batter (v.)).

Encyclopedia Article for batter

mixture of flour and liquid with other ingredients, such as leavening agents, shortening, sugar, salt, eggs, and various flavouring materials, used to make baked products

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