From batter plus -ed. The verb batter entered Middle English from Old French batre, from Latin battuere, meaning to beat or strike. The food sense follows the cooking noun batter, a beaten mixture used for coating food.
From batter plus -ed. The verb batter entered Middle English from Old French batre, from Latin battuere, meaning to beat or strike. The food sense follows the cooking noun batter, a beaten mixture used for coating food.
What does battered mean?
Battered can mean hit repeatedly, worn or damaged, physically abused, coated in batter, or very drunk in informal British English.
Is battered a verb or an adjective?
It can be both. As a verb it is the past tense or past participle of batter, and as an adjective it describes condition, coating, or drunkenness.
What does battered mean in battered fish?
In battered fish, it means the fish has been coated in batter before cooking, usually frying.
Does battered always mean physically damaged?
No. It often means damaged or injured, but it can also describe food coated in batter or, in UK slang, someone very drunk.
Can battered describe a person?
Yes. It may describe someone physically injured by repeated blows or abuse, especially in phrases such as battered spouse or battered woman.
Is battered the same as damaged?
Battered is narrower than damaged when it points to repeated blows, rough use, weather, or hard treatment rather than any kind of harm.
What is a synonym for battered?
For damaged objects, worn, weathered, and beat-up often fit. For the verb sense, pounded or hammered may fit.
Where does battered come from?
Battered comes from batter plus -ed. The verb traces through Old French batre to Latin battuere, meaning to beat or strike.