bat

1.
n. & v.
—n.
1 an implement with a handle, usu. of wood and with a flat or curved surface, used for hitting balls in games.
2 a turn at using this.
3 a batsman, esp. in cricket, usu. described in some way (an excellent bat).
4 (usu. in pl.) an object like a table-tennis bat used to guide aircraft when taxiing.
—v. (batted, batting)
1 tr. hit with or as with a bat.
2 intr. take a turn at batting.
Phrases and idioms:
bat around
1 sl. potter aimlessly.
2 US discuss (an idea or proposal). off one's own bat unprompted, unaided. right off the bat US immediately.
Etymology: ME f. OE batt club, perh. partly f. OF batte club f. battre strike
2.
n. any mouselike nocturnal mammal of the order Chiroptera, capable of flight by means of membranous wings extending from its forelimbs.
Phrases and idioms:
have bats in the belfry be eccentric or crazy. like a bat out of hell very fast.
Etymology: 16th c., alt. of ME bakke f. Scand.
3.
v.tr. (batted, batting) wink (one's eyelid) (now usu. in phr.).
Phrases and idioms:
not (or never) bat an eyelid colloq. show no reaction or emotion.
Etymology: var. of obs. bate flutter