batter

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To hit something hard and repeatedly.

   The firefighters battered down the door to reach the family.

2. 2
   verb

   To damage something by hitting it many times.

   The little boat was battered by the waves all night.

3. 3
   verb

   To coat food in batter before frying.

   They batter the fish before deep-frying it.

4. 4
   verb

   To defeat an opponent very badly.

   Leeds United battered Charlton seven to nil.

From Middle English batteren, batren, bateren, a frequentative of Middle English batten, baten (“to beat”), equivalent to bat + -er (frequentative suffix).

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