batful

English

Alternative forms

• batfull (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English batful, badfull, perhaps from Old English *batfull, equivalent to bat (“to improve"; as in "battle, batten”) +‎ -ful. Compare also Old Norse bati (“improvement, profit, usefulness”).

Adjective

batful (comparative more batful, superlative most batful)

1. (dialectal or obsolete) Rich; fertile, as in reference to land or soil.

   Synonyms: (obsolete) batten, (obsolete) battle

   • 1612, Michael Drayton, “Song 3”, in [John Selden], editor, Poly-Olbion. Or A Chorographicall Description of Tracts, Riuers, Mountaines, Forests, and Other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britaine, […], London: […] H[umphrey] L[ownes] for Mathew Lownes; I. Browne; I. Helme; I. Busbie, published 1613, →OCLC, page 47:

     The batfull pastures fenc’t, and most with quickset mound, / The sundry sorts of soyle, diversitie of ground; […]