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batten down the hatches

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hatch

2  [hach]
Use batten down the hatches in a Sentence
–noun
1. Nautical.
a. Also called hatchway. an opening, usually rectangular, in the deck through which passengers can pass, cargo can be loaded or unloaded, etc.
b. the cover over such an opening.
2. an opening that serves as a doorway or window in the floor or roof of a building.
3. the cover over such an opening.
4. Slang. the throat as used for drinking: His usual toast was a muttered “Down the hatch!”
5. Aeronautics. an opening or door in an aircraft.
6. the lower half of a divided door, both parts of which can be opened separately.
7. a small door, grated opening, or serving counter in or attached to the wall of a building, room, etc., as for a merchant's stall.
8. a bin or compartment built into a confined space, esp. a deep storage bin.
9. Automotive.
a. the cargo area in a hatchback.
b. Also called liftgate. the hinged lid of a hatchback that swings upward to provide access to the cargo area.
10. anything resembling a hatch.
—Idiom
11. batten down the or one's hatches,
a. Nautical. prepare for stormy weather: used as a command.
b. to prepare to meet an emergency or face a great difficulty: The government must batten down its hatches before the election.
Origin:
bef. 1100; ME hacche, OE hæcc grating, hatch, half-gate; akin to D hek gate, railing
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Access Hatches
Get Access Hatches at Low Prices Find and Compare at BL Wilcox
www.blwilcox.com
Bilco Access Products
Roof hatches, Automatic Fire Vents, Floor Access Doors, Railing Systems
www.bilco.com
bat·ten 2   (bāt'n)   
n.  

  1. Nautical

    1. One of several flexible strips of wood or plastic placed in pockets at the outer edge of a sail to keep it flat.

    2. A narrow strip of wood used to fasten down the edges of the material that covers hatches in foul weather.

  2. Chiefly British A narrow strip of wood used especially for flooring.

tr.v.   bat·tened, bat·ten·ing, bat·tens
Nautical To furnish, fasten, or secure with battens: battened down the hatch during the storm.

[Middle English batent, from Old French bataunt, wooden strip, clapper, from present participle of batre, to beat; see batter1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

batten down the hatches

Prepare for trouble, as in Here comes the bossbatten down the hatches. This term originated in the navy, where it signified preparing for a storm by fastening down canvas over doorways and hatches (openings) with strips of wood called battens. [Late 1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Important Info. On Batten Disease Causes, Signs, Risks & Treatment.
www.Lifescript.com
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