To batten down the hatches
- To batten down the hatches
- Hatch Hatch, n. [OE. hacche, AS. h[ae]c, cf. haca the bar of a
door, D. hek gate, Sw. h["a]ck coop, rack, Dan. hekke manger,
rack. Prob. akin to E. hook, and first used of something made
of pieces fastened together. Cf. {Heck}, {Hack} a frame.]
1. A door with an opening over it; a half door, sometimes set
with spikes on the upper edge.
[1913 Webster]
In at the window, or else o'er the hatch. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. A frame or weir in a river, for catching fish.
[1913 Webster]
3. A flood gate; a sluice gate. --Ainsworth.
[1913 Webster]
4. A bedstead. [Scot.] --Sir W. Scott.
[1913 Webster]
5. An opening in the deck of a vessel or floor of a warehouse
which serves as a passageway or hoistway; a hatchway;
also; a cover or door, or one of the covers used in
closing such an opening.
[1913 Webster]
6. (Mining) An opening into, or in search of, a mine.
[1913 Webster]
{Booby hatch}, {Buttery hatch}, {Companion hatch}, etc. See
under {Booby}, {Buttery}, etc.
{To batten down the hatches} (Naut.), to lay tarpaulins over
them, and secure them with battens.
{To be under hatches}, to be confined below in a vessel; to
be under arrest, or in slavery, distress, etc.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
2000.
Look at other dictionaries:
batten down the hatches — If you batten down the hatches, you prepare for the worst that could happen to you … The small dictionary of idiomes
batten down the hatches — 1. To prepare for a crisis 2. Orig to secure the hatches on a ship against bad weather • • • Main Entry: ↑batten … Useful english dictionary
batten down the hatches — ► batten down the hatches 1) secure a ship s tarpaulins. 2) prepare for a difficulty or crisis. Main Entry: ↑batten … English terms dictionary
batten down the hatches — If you batten down the hatches, you prepare for the worst that could happen to you. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** When you batten down the hatches, you prepare yourself for trouble or a forthcoming difficult period, like a ship… … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
batten down the hatches — to prepare yourself for a difficult period by protecting yourself in every possible way. When you re coming down with a cold, all you can do is batten down the hatches and wait for the body to fight it off … New idioms dictionary
batten down the hatches — verb a) Prepare for trouble. b) To cover the hatches on a sailing ship with tarpaulins and nail the edges down with battens, to prevent water getting below decks in a storm … Wiktionary
batten down the hatches — Meaning Origin Nautical origin probably 18th century. A batten is a strip of wood; these were used to hold down sheets of canvas to cover hatchways in storms … Meaning and origin of phrases
batten down the hatches — idi a) to cover a ship s hatches with tarpaulins held in place with battens b) to prepare to meet an emergency … From formal English to slang
batten down the hatches — 1》 Nautical secure a ship s tarpaulins. 2》 prepare for a difficult situation. → batten … English new terms dictionary
batten down the hatches — phrasal to prepare for a difficult or dangerous situation … New Collegiate Dictionary
