Source : Wright, Joseph English Dialect Dictionary
web : https://eddonline4-proj.uibk.ac.at/edd/main.html

BAT, sb.1 Var. dial. uses in Sc. Irel. and Eng. Also
written bath Wxf.1; batt.
I. A stout stick.
1. A cudgel, staff, thick walking-stick.
Wxf.1, Not.1, Lei.1, War.3 Ken.1 Some prisoners were tried for
breaking out of Walmer Barracks, when the constable said, ‘One
of the prisoners struck at me with a bat’; which he afterwards
defined as being, in this case, ‘the tarred butt-end of a hop-pole.’
Sur.1 Sus. When he walks he keeps putting the staff, which he
calls a bat, in front, and so poles himself along, Jefferies Hdgrow.
(1889) 79; He took with him a middling thick stick, and said that
if any ghost interrupted him he would by the help of his bat try
and find out what a ghost was made of, Egerton Flks. and Ways
(1884) 109; I shook ma bat, Lower Jan Cladpole st. 120; Sus.1
Dev. w. Times (Feb. 26, 1886) 2, col. 2. [(K.)]
2. A pole 10 ft. 6 in. long.
s.Wal. Morton Cyclo. Agric. (1863) s.Pem. Laws Little Eng.
(1888) 419; Obsol. or Obs. An old inhabitant remembers it as a
long pole or stick, 10 feet 6 inches long, used for measuring
land. The n.Pem. equivalent is called a stang, and is 8 yards in
length (W.M.M.).
3. A staff placed between two horses in a team, the
traces of a single horse, or a pair of harrows, &c., to keep
them apart. Cf. batticle.
Ken. When a team is going tandem-fashion, there is a spread-bat
or spreader placed between the horses to spread out the traces.
If the team is arranged in pairs, each pair is kept apart by a gig-bat.
The coupling-bat is a staff attached to the mouthpiece of
both horses in a pair, to keep them apart. (See Gig, Billet.) A
land-bat is the staff which keeps the coulter of a plough in position
(P.M.); Ken.1 Sur.1 The coupling-bat is the stick or piece
of wood put to keep a pair of harrows apart.
4. A round stick used to strike the ball in the game of
rounders.
w.Som.1 Oftener called a timmy.
5. In pl. cricket. Obs.
Cor. Grose (1790) MS. add. (C.); To play at bats, Monthly
Mag. (1808) II. 422. [Not known to our correspondents.]
6. The long handle or staff of a scythe.
Ken. A sythe batt and dowls [doles, q.v.], Inventory of Poorhouse,
Pluckley (1793) (P.M.); Ken.1
7. A large rough kind of rubber used for sharpening
scythes.
Ken. This is known either as ‘rubber’ or ‘rubber bat.’ In
some places a distinction is made, ‘rubber’ denoting a round
stone for sharpening the scythe, and ‘rubber bat’ a flat stone
used when the metal is soft, so as not to tear it (P.M.); Ken.1 Dor.
Sometimes called rubber-batts or balkers, Woodward Geol. Eng.
and Wales (1876) 237. n.Dev. Near Kentisbere irregular concretions
of sandstone have been largely worked for scythe-stones
or whetstones, called Devonshire batts, WOODWARD Geol. Eng. and Wales
8. A club used in washing clothes. Cf. battling, dolly.
War.3 The washing bat was used to beat the dirty clothes after
they had been ‘put to soak’ in water on the day preceding washing
day. Shr.1 ? Obs.
9. A wooden tool for battering clods of earth.
Hrf.1
10. A beam; a log for burning.
Ken. For a load of wood to the poorhouse, Batt fagotts 75, 15s,
Pluckley Overseers' Acc. (Jan. 10, 1782) (P.M.); Ken.1 Pd. John
Sillwood, for fetching a batt from Canterb[ury] for a middle piece
for my mill, 0. 10s. 0, Boteler MS. Acc. Bks. (c. 1664); Ken.2, Sus.1
11. A wooden platform for fishermen; a plank placed
across a dyke as a foot-bridge.
Nhb. A batt has been put up for the purpose of fishing with
sweep nets, Newc. Dy. Leader (July 6, 1896). Ken. Used in the
marshes between Sandwich and Deal (P.M.).
12. A staple or loop of iron. Also in phr. bats and bands.
Sc. (Jam.) N.I.1 Bats and bands, a description of rude hinges,
consisting of a hook which is driven into the door-frame, and
a strap with an eye which is nailed to the door, so that the door
can at any time be lifted off its hinges.
13. An iron drag chained to the wheel of a cart or carriage
when going downhill. Also called drugbat. Cf.
slipper, skid-pan.
Brks.1, Hmp. (J.R.W.), Hmp.1
II. A stroke; rate of motion.
1. A sharp blow, a stroke. In pl. a beating.
Lth. (Jam.) N.I.1 He geed me a bat on the heed. s.Don. Simmons
Gl. (1890) N.Cy.1 Nhb.1 A bat o' the jaa. It ne'er could
be brought to behaviour, Though it has got many a bat, Midford
Galloway's Ramble. Dur. Augustus 'n' Antony gat te batts aboot
it, 'n' Antony gat lickt, Egglestone Betty Podkin's Let. (1877) 8;
Dur.1 Cum. I's willin to out but bats [expressive of desire for peace]
(M.P.); The defendant said a woman broke her nose with a bat
of her clog, Carlisle Patriot (May 10, 1889) 5, col. 5; Ah lost
patience an' gave her a sharp bat on t'arm, Rigby Midsummer to
Martinmas (1891) xiii; Cum.1; Cum.3 An' what cared we for
Fortun's bats, hooiver feurce she struck, 49. Wm.&Cum.1 At
yea batt he fell't ma flat, 282. Yks. Hit her a bat (K.); I did get
a bat, Hamilton Nugae Lit. (1841) 357. n.Yks. Speer'th deaur
and flay back'th cat; There'st backon in her mouth, hit her a bat,
Meriton Praise Ale (1684) l. 219-20; They heared his swipple...
gannin' wiv a strange quick bat o' t'lathe fleear, Atkinson
Moorl. Parish (1891) 54; n.Yks.1 Puir tyke! 't gets mair bats an
bites [more blows than victuals]. Tak' heed! mebbe he'll tak' it a
bat; n.Yks.2 I'll give thee thy bats; n.Yks.3 ne.Yks.1 He gav
him sikan a bat ower t'back. Noo thoo'll git thi bats inoo if thoo
deean't behave thisen. e.Yks. Aa'll gi' tha' thi’ bats, Marshall
Rur. Econ. (1788) Give him a bat ower heead for his pawk
[impudence], Nicholson Flk-Sp. (1889) 23; e.Yks.1 Thoo'll get
thy bats, my lad, for deein that, when thy fayther cums whom.
m.Yks.1 w.Yks. Bud Poll tuk that a bat at chops An screeam'd
aght, ‘Thaa'rt a liar!’ Preston Poems (1872) Poll Blossom; Nah an
then givin his stomach a gooid bat wi his fist, as it wor misbehaivin'
itsel, Pudsey Olm. (1883) 21; Ah doan't care a bat [‘don't
care a rap'] (Æ.B.); w.Yks.5 Gee him a bat o' t'hēad! Lan. Aw
up wi' my fist an' gan her a bat between th' een, Brierley Red
Wind. (1868) 25; Hoo gien Sarah a bat o'er th' face wi hur fist,
Staton Loominary (c. 1861) 62; Lan.1 n.Lan. Hi gev him ə bat
undər t'lug (W.S.); n.Lan.1, ne.Lan.1 m.Lan.1 Give id a bat o'
th' chops wi' a cricket bat. Chs.1 Stf.2 Oi noo sooner sĕd th'
word, tin 'ē caat mi ŭ bat us sent me floyin. Der.2, nw.Der.1
n.Lin.1 He fetch'd me such a bat o' th' side o' my heäd, it maade all
my teäth chitter. Nhp.1 [In working stone, or ‘batting’] each blow
with the mallet is called a bat, and one mason will often say to
another, such a one strikes a good bat (s.v. Batting). War.2,
Shr.1 Shr.2 Suf. He come a good bat agin the door (C.T.); That
come up agin it a good tight bat (W.R.E.). Dev. He gave the
colt a bat on the side, w. Times (Feb. 26, 1886) 2, col. 2.
2. The stroke or blow of a weaver in sending home the
weft.
w.Yks. Used of the movement of the ‘slay’ or reed in the
‘going part’ of a handloom, whereby the weft was sent home.
Much of the skill of a weaver was shown in the regularity of his
‘bat,’ which would produce even cloth. If the weft threads could
not be got close enough by one stroke or bat, two were given, or
one and two alternately (W.T.).
3. The stroke of a clock.
Cum. Afoor t'last bat soonded we'd wished yan anudder a Happy
New Year, Gwordie Greenup Anudder Batch (1873) 32. n.Yks.1
4. A ‘stroke’ of work. Also in phr. to keep one at the bat,
to keep one steadily at work.
Sc. Though he's nae bad hand when he's on the loom, it is nae
easy matter to keep him at the batt, Hogg Wint. Ev. Tales I. 337
(Jam.). n.Yks.1 Ah hevn't strucken a bat sen Marti'mas. ne.Yks.1
Ah's aboot at t'last bat [at the last stroke, worn out]. w.Yks.
Aar Sammy's nivver struck a bat, Eccles Sngs. (1862) 101; Aw
haven't stricken a bat this wick, Hartley Clock Alm. (1878) 41;
If aw wor him awd nivver do another bat, HARTLEY Tales, 2nd S. 61;
w.Yks.3 He has not struck a bat sin' Christmas. Lan. Theaw
hasn't struck bat now for nearly a yer, Ballad, Eawr Nan an' Me.
5. Rate of motion, speed, pace. Also fig. of ‘fast’ living:
rate.
N.Cy.1 Dur.1 He went at a terrible bat. He lived at a great bat
[very extravagantly]. Cum. Haud on a bit! till we get to t'hingin
ground, an' then ye'll see her gan a rare bat (J.Ar.). Wm.1 Tha
walks at a girt bat. n.Yks. He'll nivver get there at that bat
(I.W.); n.Yks.1 He gans on at a sad bat. e.Yks. Thoo can't hod
on lang at that bat, Nicholson Flk-Sp. (1889) 95. w.Yks. Hlfx.
Wds.; w.Yks.1 It wer t'varra saam fellow at raad, at a girt bat,
down our loan, ii. 303. Lan. Reight merrily we drove, full bat,
Ridings Muse (1853) 26; The werld whizzus reawnd at sich o bat
we hannot toime te fo' off, Scholes Tim Gamwattle (1857) 24;
Lan.1 ‘By th' mon,’ said he, as he turn't his collar up and cruttle't
into th' nook, ‘it's [rain's] comin' deawn full bat,’ Waugh Sneck-Bant
(1868) ii. ne.Lan.1 e.Lan.1 He ran at a great bat. m.Lan.1
Comin' to'rt tha at a good bat. Chs. He was going at a bonny
bat (E.M.G.); Chs.1 He ran full bat agen him. s.Chs.1 Tŭ goa· ŭt
ŭ praat·i baat· [to go at a pratty bat]. Not. (J.H.B.); (W.H.S.)
n.Lin.1 Thaay do go at a straange bat on them theäre raailroäds.
sw.Lin.1 He was going such a bat, he could not turn hissen.
Lei.1 Doon't ye goo a sooch a bat; yeen't walkin' for a weeger.
War.3 What a bat you're going. se.Wor.1 I've come along at
a smartish bat, an' it fetches the sweat out on mŭ, above a bit.
Shr.1 'E's gŏŏin at a pretty bat. Hrf.2 e.Sus. Holloway.
Colloq. Here they come, a mixed flock of birds full bat overhead,
Dy. News (Aug. 18, 1887) 6, col. 3 (Farmer). [Amer. slang. A
spree, a drunken bout, Farmer. Aus., N.S.W. I saw him mount
and start off at a rattling good bat along the road, Boldrewood
Robbery (1888) III. xiii.]
6. Manner, rate, condition, state of health. In phr. the
old bat, the same old way, as usual.
Slk. About a bat, upon a par (Jam.). Rxb. About the auld bat
(JAM.). N.Cy.1 At the same bat. Nhb.1 If aa divvent gan this week
aa'll gan the next, at ony bat [under any circumstances]. Aa's just
th' aad-bat: aa's just th' aad-bat;... elwis aa's glad, whether
good time or bad, Just to say ─ aa's aboot th' aad-bat, Song, Th'
Aad-bat. Dur.1 He is reduced to a sad bat. Cum. When it's gitten
to that bat, it'll come til an end, ye'll see (M.P.); T'felley's, teuh, was
aboot t'seaam batt, fer t'dooal at sud a hodden thur tegidder endwess
was oa brokken, Sargisson J. Scoap (1881) 218; Cum.1 Wm.
But he war olus et t'aald bat, Jack Robison Aald Taales (1882) 8;
Wm.1 Well, hoo ist ta? ─ Whya a's just i't ald-bat. n.Yks.2
e.Yks.1 Jack's at awd bat ageean, MS. add. (T.H.) w.Yks. I
began ta laff at him, but I wor varry sooin at t'same bat, Pudsey
Olm. (1883) 21; My feet are all right in the morning, but towards
11 o'clock it's just the same old bat (F.P.T.); Ah've nobbut
addled two bob a-day fer three week. ─ Aw! whah ah've been on
at that bat fer aboon three wick (Æ.B.); w.Yks.1 He gangs on at
saam bat; w.Yks.3 What bat are ye at? [what are you doing?]
Lan. My wife's same as usal, too ─ gooin on at th' owd bat,
Clegg David's Loom (1894) ii; How are things shappin down i' th'
cloof? ─ About th' owd bat, Waugh Chimn. Corner (1879) 114;
Lan.1 n.Lan.1 I was varra weel yesterda, but now I'se at t'ald
bat again. ne.Lan.1 n.Lin.1 Oor parson's at his ohd bat, preächin'
agen Methodises and Ranters.
III. A fragment; a broken piece; a mass, lump, bundle.
1. A fragment, remnant. Also in phr. bits and bats, odds
and ends, broken pieces.
w.Yks. The remnant of a cigar or pipe of tobacco. Pick up all
t'bits and bats lying about (J.T.).
2. A broken brick, a brickbat.
w.Yks. (J.T.) Ken. Those houses were built with bats (D.W.L.);
(P.M.) Sus. (F.E.S.) w.Som.1 Bricks when not whole are called
half or three-quarter bats.
3. The corner of a field; a short ridge.
Hmp.1 Som. W. & J. Gl. (1873) w.Som.1 In ploughing a field
there are always some corners and generally other small places
which cannot be got at with the plough, and must be dug by hand
─ these are called baats.
4. A strip of land between two trenches in a ploughed field.
Dev. His father used to put one sort of manure on one bat, and
another sort on the next, Reports Provinc. (1895)
5. A parting in coal or in ironstone.
Stf. At Wednesbury the last parting or laming [?] that lies
between the upper and the nether coal is call'd a bat, between
1 and 3 yards thick (K.); Stf.1
6. Coal which contains pieces of shale or slate. Also
known as Bass or Bath, q.v.
n.Yks.2 s.Stf. N. & Q. (1873) 4th S. xii. 376; We seed lumps
o' what we thought was coal but it was nuthin but bats, Pinnock
Blk. Cy. Ann. (1895) Stf.1, Der.2, Lei.1, Nhp.1
Hence Batty, adj. Of coal: slaty, bad for burning.
Lei.1 The coal wur that batty, tworn't good enew to bun bricks
wi'. Nhp.1 It's poor coal, it's so batty. War. (J.R.W.); War.2 War.3
7. A turf used for burning.
n.Lin.1
8. Hatters' term: a layer of wool or other material of
which the hat body is made.
Chs.1
9. In pottery works: a flat slab made either of plaster
or of earthenware.
Stf.2 A flat slab, on which unfinished ware stands in the makers'
shops.
10. A kind of cake.
Wil.1 A thin kind of oven-cake, about as thick as a tea-cake, but
mostly crust.
[I. 1. Bat, a heavy stick, a club, Ash (1795); A bat or
club, fustis, baculus, Robertson Phras. (1693); Make you
ready your stiff bats and clubs, SHAKS. Coriolanus I. i. 165;
Here þis boy is, ȝe bade us go bary With battis, York
Plays (c. 1400) 334; He nemeth is bat and forth a goth,
Sir Beves (c. 1350) 391. II. 1. To have a batt at the Pope
with the butt end of a Dominican, Whalley Establ.
Rel. (1674) 22 (N.E.D.). III. 1. Of battys and broken bred
thi bely for to fylle, P. Plowman (A.) xii. 70 (Ingilby MS.).
2. Of a bat of erthe a man and a mayde, Ingilby MS. (c.) xix. 92.]

BAT, sb.2 Sc. Yks. Not. Lin. Lei. Also Dev. A
bundle of straw or rushes, usually two wheat-sheaves
fastened together. Called also a Batten, q.v. m.Yks.1
w.Yks. Watson Hist. Hlfx. (1775) 532; We a bat a straw teed to
ther backs, Tom Treddlehoyle Bairnsla Ann. (1851) 53; w.Yks.3
The straw of two wheat-sheaves tied together; w.Yks.4; w.Yks.5
A bat o' strawah. Not. Morton Cyclo. Agric. (1863) s.Not.
(J.P.K.) Not.3 A sheaf of straw for thatching or covering stacks.
n.Lin. If he'll let him hev a few bats to mak a bed on, M. Peacock
Taales (1889) 122; The barrils hoisted into th' cart And covered
down wi' bats, E. Peacock R. Skirlaugh (1870) II. 118; n.Lin.1
I alus mak th' last wheät stack I hev into bats agen harvist time.
sw.Lin.1 They're fetching a load of bats to cover down with. He'd
have bats ready, and bat the stack down, not thack them. Lei.1
Dev. w. Times (Feb. 26, 1886) 2, col. 2.

BAT, sb.3 Lan. Som. Dev.
1. A heavy laced boot, with hob-nails.
Som. W. & J. Gl. (1873) w.Som.1 Called also ‘aa·f baats.’ Aay-d
u-bún een tu beespai·k u pae·ur u baats [I had been in to bespeak
a pair of bats]. Dev. When he kim'd to a varmer's howze, They
awl wiz gone ta bed 'Sept one, an her sa quiet's a mouze, Zed...
‘Take off the bats, an kim inside,’ Hare Brither Jan (1863) 18, ed.
1887. Slang. Among thieves, a pair of bad or old boots (Farmer).
2. A child's shoe, made without a welt.
Lan.1
Hence Bat-maker, sb. one who makes children's shoes.
Lan.1 When about twelve years of age I went to learn the trade
of a batmaker, Buxton Botan. Guide (1849) 4.

BAT, sb.4 Sc. Nhb. Yks.
1. A river-island. Twd. (Jam.) See Battock.
2. A margin of low-lying land which is overflowed at
spring tides or in floods.
Bwk. Various fisheries on the south side of the Tweed between
Berwick bridge and the sea are called bats, such as ‘Bailiffs bat,’
‘Davie's bat,’ &c. Upon these fisheries (and also upon others not
thus denominated) are heaps of stones called bats, upon which the
nets are drawn when there is no means of landing them in the
usual way (from the bank of the river being steep), Weddell
Salmon Fishing in Archaeol. Aeliana, IV. 307 (Heslop Nhb. Words).
Nhb.1, n.Yks.3

BAT, sb.5 Lin. A boat used for clearing drains in the
fen district. Cf. bab, sb.2
Lin. The bat was a flat-bottomed boat, a sort of ‘dredge,’ with
hooks in the bottom, which tore up weeds, disturbed the mud, &c.
(J.C.W.)

BAT, sb.6 Irel. Yks. Lin.
1. A moth.
N.I.1 A bat [vespertilio] is called a leather-winged bat [to distinguish
it from bat, a moth]. Frm. Science Gossip (1882) 41.
2. Dark specks which appear floating before the eyes
when the sight is impaired.
n.Yks.2
3. Comp. Bat-eyed, near-sighted.
n.Lin.1
[Cp. Fr. blatte (Lat. blatta), a moth. The dial. form may
be due to form assoc. w. bat ('vespertilio'). It may be
noted that MLat. blatta, glossed ‘nacht fleddermuss’ (Diefenbach
Gloss. 1867) = Lat. blatta, a moth.]

BAT, v.1 Sc. Cum. Wm. Yks. Lan. Chs. Stf. Der. Not.
Lei. Nhp. War. Wor. Shr. Hrf.
1. To hit, strike; to tap.
Slk. (Jam.) Wm. Oor Susan was batten Jim Dobson's lugs a
Setterday neet, Taylor Sketches (1882) 34. w.Yks.5, ne.Lan.1
Chs. He batted him over the head (E.M.G.). s.Chs.1 Baat· iz· bróo
for)im [bat his broo for him]. Stf.1 w.Wor. So I bats him
on his yud wi' ma hat, S. Beauchamp Grantley Grange (1874) I.
29. Shr.1 Mothers bat their children in playful reproof; Shr.2
Batt him on the back.
2. To beat with a spade, flail, &c.; to press down,
flatten, compress.
Cum. To beat with a flail, so as to cause the corn partially to
fall out of the sheaf (M.P.). Chs.1 s.Chs.1 To bat a garden-bed
with a spade, to bat the coals flat down upon the fire, &c. Stf.1;
Stf.2 Oi want thēĭ bat this turf. s.Not. He raked the soil ower an'
then batted it down with 'is spade. War.2 To bat down uneven
turf, soil, &c. Shr.1 Gŏŏ an' fatch a box o' slack to rake the fire;
an' bring the shovel alung ŏŏth yo to bat it down well as it shanna
burn through. Hrf.1
Hence (1) Batted, ppl. adj. hardened, compressed; see
below; (2) Batting, vbl. sb. striking, pressing down.
(1) Sc. Like beildless birdies when they ea' [?] Frae wet, wee
wing the batted snaw, Thom Rhymes (1844) 61. Nhp.1 A stonemason's
term for stone when it is worked off with a tool instead
of being rubbed smooth; if a mason inquires how stone is to be
worked, he asks ‘Is it to be batted or rubbed?’ (2) Lan. Thou
desarves this wot porritch-slice battin about thy mouth, Brierley
Waverlow (1884) 65. Stf.2 Thēĭ costna whēil that barraful o' ess
daĭn th' road wi'out battin it daĭn.
3. Of a bird: to beat the wings; also fig. to triumph,
exult. Of persons: to beat the arms across the breast
for the sake of warmth.
Lan. Owd Racketybag'll bat her wings, an' crow o'er thi past owt,
Brierley Traddlepin Fold, viii; Brierley To E. Waugh in Country Wds.
(1867) 164. s.Chs.1 Iv)yu· kon-)ŭ ky'ee·p yursel· waa·rm wi)yŭr
job, yoa· mŭn baat· [if yŏ conna keep yursel warm wi' yur job, yo
mun bat].
4. To blink the eyes.
w.Yks. (S.O.A.) Chs. (E.M.G.); Chs.1 Dunna bat thi eye a
that'ns; Chs.2 Chs.3 s.Chs.1 Dhaa kon·)ŭ mai· mi baat· mi ahyz [tha
conna may me bat my eyes]. Stf.1; Stf.2 Oi cudna stand th' lēt
i' chapel last nēt, it mēd me bat mi aise ivver so. Der.1 Der.2, nw.Der.1
Not.2 Th' time sames gone afore yer can bat yer eye. Lei.1
War.2 What makes the child bat his eyes so? w.Wor.1 Now,
Lizzie, thahr yŭ be a battin' uv your eyes agen! 'Ow many times
'ave I towd yŭ not to bat 'em so? Shr.1 'E bats 'is eyes like a
louse i' the ess.
5. To walk at a quick pace. Hence Batting, vbl. sb.
walking fast.
Lan. Heaw they staret when they seed Billy battin away across
a fielt, Old Radicals and Young Reformers, 13.
[1. To batte, fustigare, tundere, Levins Manip. (1570).
3. To bat (as a hawk), volaturio, Coles (1679); Batting or
to bat is when a hawke fluttereth with her wings either
from the pearch or the mans fist, striving as it were to
flie away, Latham Falconry (1615) Gloss. (N.E.D.)]

BAT, v.2 Lin. Lei. To cover with bundles of straw;
to thatch roughly. Also in phr. to bat down.
n.Lin.1 Stacks are batted down as soon as they are ‘topped up,’
i.e. finished, by having bats pinned on them with thatch-pegs.
After the harvest has been got in these bats are removed and the
stack is thatched. To cover a potatoe-pie or a heap of turnips or
mangel-wurzels with straw preparatory to putting earth upon it,
is called batting down. Lei.1 To cover with bats, as a rough roofing
for ricks before being properly thatched, or for covering potato
heaps, bricks drying before being baked, &c.

BAT, sb.1 Lakel. Yks. Lan. Not. Sus. Hmp. Dor.
1. A small stick for driving a horse or donkey. Dor.
(E.C.M.) 2. The stone used for sharpening a scythe.
Hmp. (H.R.) 3. A long staff; see below.
s.Sus. The elder sportsmen carry long five-foot staves, locally
called ‘bats,’ by the aid of which they are able to cross the slippery
and narrow pieces of wood which here and there are thrown
across the ditches and act as bridges, Longman's Mag. (Aug.
1902) 357.
4. A fight.
Cum. Defendant and S— went out to have a bat, w.Cum.
Times (Aug. 7, 1901) 5, col. 6.
5. The sweep of a scythe; the forward movement a
mower makes with his scythe. Lakel. Penrith Obs.
(Nov. 9, 1897). Cum.4 Hence ‡bat and breed, phr. the
ground which a mower covers with every stroke of his
scythe. Lakel. Penrith Obs. (Nov. 9, 1897). n.Yks. (R.H.H.)
6. A piece of work. Cum.4 7. Phr. (1) all (of) the same
bat, all the same sort; (2) to do a thing to some bat, to do it
with some force or earnestness.
(1) s.Not. It's all of the same bat, just a drizzle. The pigs is
all the same bat, on'y middlin (J.P.K.). (2) Lan. (S.W.)

BAT, sb.2 Sh.I. Lan. Also in forms baet, bet Sh.&Ork.1
Sh.&Ork.1 Lan. Spent the forenoon in helping son John thresh
wheat bats at John Eccles's barn, Walkden Diary (ed. 1866) 48.

BAT, v. Sc. Yks. Lan. Glo. Hmp. Dev. 1. To strike
with a stick. Glo., Dev. Horae Subsecivae (1777) 39.
2. To thresh, esp. by striking the sheaves against a stone;
to beat cotton or wool.
Sc. (A.W.) Lan. Set Thomas and John to bat oats for bread,
Walkden Diary (ed. 1866)37. s.Lan.1
Hence Batting-stick, sb. a stick for beating wool or
cotton. Lan.1, s.Lan.1 3. To press down.
n.Yks. Bat t'soil wi t'spead (I.W.).
Hence Batting, ppl. adj. ? satisfying, causing repletion.
Bnff. Wi' puddin broe or haggies kail, Or something maks a
battin' meal, Taylor Poems (1787) 52.
4. To fix against a wall, &c. with holdfasts. Cai.1
5. To place for leverage.
w.Yks. They bat wi' ther fit ageean t'fixtures, Yks. Wkly. Post
(Feb. 1, 1896).
6. With about: to move about.
Hmp. Old Tigwell keeps batting about (H.R.).

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BAT, sb.2 Sh.I. Lan. Also in forms baet, bet Sh.&Ork.1
Sh.&Ork.1 Lan. Spent the forenoon in helping son John thresh
wheat bats at John Eccles's barn, Walkden Diary (ed. 1866) 48.

"Des bottes de paille, généralement deux gerbes de blé attachées ensemble."

11. A wooden platform for fishermen; a plank placed
across a dyke as a foot-bridge.
Nhb. A batt has been put up for the purpose of fishing with
sweep nets, Newc. Dy. Leader (July 6, 1896). Ken. Used in the
marshes between Sandwich and Deal (P.M.).

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