batting
|bat-ting|
/ˈbætɪŋ/
(bat)
hit or flying mammal
Etymology
'bat' (the base of 'batting') originates from Old English, specifically the word 'batt', where 'batt' meant 'club' or 'cudgel'.
'bat' changed from Middle English 'batte' (meaning a club or stick used for striking) and eventually became the modern English verb 'bat' and the noun 'batting' for the action of striking; the sense of 'batting' as padding arose later from a related noun use of 'batt' meaning a pad or wad of fiber.
Initially, it meant 'club or cudgel' (and the action 'to beat with a club'); over time it evolved into the current senses of 'to strike with a bat' and a separate meaning 'soft filling or padding' for textiles and quilting.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or skill of striking a ball with a bat in sports such as baseball or cricket; also a player's turn to bat.
His batting has improved since he changed his stance.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
soft material (such as cotton, wool, or synthetic fiber) used as padding or insulation in quilts, upholstery, and clothing.
The quilt needs more batting to make it warmer.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2026/01/26 09:09