名詞 batten:

1. stuffing made of rolls or sheets of cotton wool or synthetic fiber
   同義詞：batting
2. a strip fixed to something to hold it firm

動(dòng)詞 batten:

1. furnish with battens
   同義詞：batten down, secure
2. secure with battens

1. The rich batten on the poor.
   富人靠剝削窮人發(fā)財(cái)。
2. The threat of inflation has made many city institutions batten down hatches and not take risks in the stock market.
   通貨膨脹的威脅已使城市許多公共機(jī)構(gòu)作好準(zhǔn)備，不去股票市場冒險(xiǎn)。
3. The hilly areas make good sheep pasture; sheep will batten on the lush grass.
   這一帶山區(qū)是很好的牧羊場，羊吃了茂盛的青草會(huì)長得肥肥的。

batten

v.intr.（不及物動(dòng)詞）
bat.tened,bat.ten.ing,bat.tens
To become fat.
變肥
To thrive and prosper, especially at another`s expense:
中飽私囊，慷他人之慨：尤指以損害別人為代價(jià)而養(yǎng)肥自己，繁榮，興旺：
例句：
slumlords who batten on the poor.
破屋的房東專以損害窮人的利益而中飽私囊

來源：
Ultimately from Old Norse batna [to improve] * see bhad-
最終源自 古斯堪的納維亞語 batna [提高] *參見 bhad-

batten
batten 2

n.（名詞）
Nautical
【航?！?/i>
One of several flexible strips of wood placed in pockets at the outer edge of a sail to keep it flat.
木條，板條：幾塊放在船帆外部用以保持船帆平整的柔韌木條
A narrow strip of wood used to fasten down the edges of the material that covers hatches in foul weather.
壓板條：一種用來固定在惡劣天氣下遮蓋船艙口材料邊緣的窄木條
Chiefly British A narrow strip of wood used especially for flooring.
【多用于英國】 木板條：特別是用來鋪地板窄木條
v.tr.（及物動(dòng)詞）
bat.tened,bat.ten.ing,bat.tens
Nautical To furnish, fasten, or secure with battens:
【航海】 固定板條：釘板條或壓條以便固定，堅(jiān)固：
例句：
batten down the hatches.
釘上艙口壓條封閉艙口

來源：
Middle English batent
中古英語 batent
from Old French bataunt [wooden strip, clapper] [from present participle of] batre [to beat] * see batter
源自 古法語 bataunt [木條，壓條] [] 源自batre的現(xiàn)在分詞 [打] *參見 batter