batt
UK[bæt]US[bæt]
n
A sheet of cotton or wool fibre prepared for use in making quilts or padding mattresses.
Etymology
The word 'batt' entered English from Old French 'batte', which denoted a piece or slab. This French term is derived from the verb 'battre', meaning 'to beat', which itself originates from Latin 'battuere'. The semantic connection lies in the manufacturing process: a batt is a mass of fibres, such as cotton or wool, that has been beaten, matted, or felted together into a flat sheet. This direct link between the action of beating and the resulting product has been preserved through its journey from Latin into modern English, where it retains a specific technical meaning in textile and bedding contexts.
Analysis
The word 'batt' is a simplex word. It is a borrowing from Old French 'batte', meaning 'a piece, a batt', which is related to the verb 'battre' (to beat). Its functional role is as a noun.
Examples
She bought a bag of cotton batts to stuff the homemade quilt.
The mattress was refurbished with a new layer of wool batt.
For this craft project, you will need one polyester batt.