English Explanatory Dictionary

battledore

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A game played with a shuttlecock and rackets (properly battledore and shuttlecock); a forerunner of badminton.
  2. The racket used in this game.
  3. A child's hornbook for learning the alphabet.
  4. A wooden paddle-shaped bat or beetle used to wash clothes by beating, stirring, or smoothing them.

Pronunciation

/ˈbæ.təl.dɔː/ /ˈbæ.tɫ̩.dɔː/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Pvanp7-battledore.wav /ˈbæ.tɫ̩.dɔɹ/

Word forms

battledore battledores battledoor

Etymology

From Middle English batildore, batylledore, batildure, batyldoure, batyndore, probably as a blend of Middle English betel (“bat, club”) and Old Occitan batedor (“beater, bat”).

Derived words

know B from a battledore know a B from a battledore
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