Middle English Dictionary Entry
bat(e)ren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | bat(e)ren v. |
| Etymology | OF batre; the -re of the OF infin. is retained through association with ME iteratives in -er-, as floteren. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. baten v.(2).
1.
(a) To beat; esp. to beat or strike repeatedly, batter, flog; also fig.; (b) to pat (sb. on the back).
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Degare (Auch)373 : He tok his bat..And in þe forehefd he him baterez Þat al þe forehefd he tospaterez.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.556 : Pride..bloweth..the fyr..Enuye..holdeth the hoote iren..strif..batereth [vr. betith] and forgeth.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)7624 : A Thousand swerdes..clatered, As Masons hadde on stones batered.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)183 : Though þay batre hym with battz and bete on hym euer.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4685 : Þai make þaire mane, þai raue þair clathes..with þair staues Apon þair breste þai baterd.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)526/26 : To se two hondred knyghtes batteryng uppon twenty knyghtes.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15868 : I batre the metal wonder sore ffor to preve wel the metal.
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16240 : I shall..batre hym On the bak..that he shall wel lere..That I am Trybulacioun.
b
- c1400(a1376) *PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.184 : I..bateride [vr. Battede] hym on þe bak, boldite his herte, Dede hym hoppe for hope.
2.
Miscell. senses: (a) of birds: to flutter, beat (the wings); (b) of a percussion instrument: reverberate; (c) to emboss or overlay (a dish, a shield); (d) ppl. constricted, slender.
Associated quotations
a
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)2.152 : Thus baterid þis bred on busshes abouȝte.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)260/13 : Bryddys..on of hom..sat on þe horne of þe schippe, and baturde wyth hor wynges.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1416 : Symbales and sonetez sware þe noyse, And bougounz busch batered so þikke.
c
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)896 : Ys scheld þat was wyþ golde y-batrid & eke wyþ ire y-bounde.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)189 : Bernakes and botures in baterde dysches.
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)174b/a : Þere was a toure of þre þousand paces hiȝe..ybatred in brede [L a lato in artum coangustata]..it hatte babel.