bat

bat¹

noun

1》 an implement with a handle and a solid surface, used in sports such as cricket or baseball for hitting the ball.

2》 a slab on which pottery is formed, dried, or fired.

verb (bats, batting, batted)

1》 (in sport) take the role of hitting rather than throwing the ball.

2》 hit with the flat of one's hand.

3》 (bat something around/about) informal casually discuss an idea or proposal.

4》 (bat around/about) informal travel widely, frequently, or casually.

Phrases

off one's own bat Brit. informal at one's own instigation.

right off the bat N. Amer. informal at the very beginning.

Origin

OE batt 'club, stick, staff', perh. partly from OFr. batte, from battre 'to strike'.

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bat²

noun

1》 a mainly nocturnal mammal capable of sustained flight, with membranous wings that extend between the fingers and limbs. [Order Chiroptera: many species.]

2》 (old bat) informal an unattractive and unpleasant woman.

Phrases

have bats in the belfry informal be eccentric or mad.

Origin

C16: alt., perh. by assoc. with med. L. batta, blacta, of ME bakke, of Scand. origin; sense 2 is from bat, a sl. term for 'prostitute', or from battleaxe.

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bat³

verb (bats, batting, batted) flutter (one's eyelashes).

Phrases

not bat (or without batting) an eyelid (or N. Amer. eye) informal show (or showing) no surprise or concern.

Origin

C19 (orig. US): from dialect and US bat 'to wink, blink', var. of obs. bate 'to flutter'.