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batten down the hatches

hatch
B b

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [hach]
    • /ˈbæt n daʊn stressed ði hætʃ/
    • /ˈbæt.ən daʊn ðə hætʃ/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hach]
    • /ˈbæt n daʊn stressed ði hætʃ/

Definitions of batten down the hatches words

  • noun batten down the hatches to use battens in nailing a tarpaulin over a hatch on a ship to make it secure 3
  • noun batten down the hatches to prepare for action, a crisis, etc 3
  • noun batten down the hatches to fasten canvas over the hatches, esp. in preparing for a storm 3
  • noun batten down the hatches Nautical. Also called hatchway. an opening, usually rectangular, in the deck through which passengers can pass, cargo can be loaded or unloaded, etc. the cover over such an opening. 1
  • noun batten down the hatches an opening that serves as a doorway or window in the floor or roof of a building. 1
  • noun batten down the hatches the cover over such an opening. 1
See all 15 definitions of batten down the hatches

Information block about the term

Origin of batten down the hatches

First appearance:

before 1100
One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1100; Middle English hacche, Old English hæcc grating, hatch, half-gate; akin to Dutch hek gate, railing

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Batten down the hatches

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Batten down the hatches

batten down the hatches popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 90% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

batten down the hatches usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for batten down the hatches

verb batten down the hatches

  • tie up — that with which anything is tied.
  • button up — to fasten (a garment) with a button or buttons
All 2 Synonyms of batten down the hatches

See also

Matching words

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