bat

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English batt Date: before 12th century 1. a stout solid stick ; club 2. a sharp blow ; stroke 3. a. a usually wooden implement used for hitting the ball in various games b. a paddle used in various games (as table tennis) c. the short whip used by a jockey 4. a. batsman, batter <

a right-handed bat

> b. a turn at batting — usually used in the phrase at bat c. hitting ability <

we need his bat in the lineup

> 5. batt 6. British rate of speed ; gait 7. binge II. verb (batted; batting) Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to strike or hit with or as if with a bat 2. a. to advance (a base runner) by batting b. to have a batting average of 3. to discuss at length ; consider in detail intransitive verb 1. a. to strike or hit a ball with a bat b. to take one's turn at bat 2. to wander aimlessly III. noun Etymology: probably alteration of Middle English bakke, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish nattbakka bat Date: 1580 any of a widely distributed order (Chiroptera) of nocturnal usually frugivorous or insectivorous flying mammals that have wings formed from four elongated digits of the forelimb covered by a cutaneous membrane and that have adequate visual capabilities but often rely on echolocation IV. transitive verb (batted; batting) Etymology: probably alteration of 2bate Date: circa 1838 to wink especially in surprise or emotion <

never batted an eye

>; also flutter <

batted his eyelashes

>