Batter \Bat"ter\ (b[a^]t"t[~e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Battered (-t[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Battering.]

[OE. bateren, OF. batre, F. battre, fr. LL. battere, for L. batuere to strike, beat; of unknown origin. Cf. Abate, Bate to abate.]

1. To beat with successive blows; to beat repeatedly and with violence, so as to bruise, shatter, or demolish; as, to batter a wall or rampart.

2. To wear or impair as if by beating or by hard usage. ``Each battered jade.'' --Pope.

3. (Metallurgy) To flatten (metal) by hammering, so as to compress it inwardly and spread it outwardly.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)