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DictionaryRoot: battuere
Latin

battuere

beat or strike

Forms

  • battuere
  • batt- — A shortened form retained in later languages.

Origin

A Latin striking verb, possibly borrowed from another ancient language; its source is uncertain.

Note

Repeated striking connects combat, beating, and some kinds of mechanical action.

4 / 5
Two protective-equipped fencers actively exchange a lunge and parry, making both visibly engaged participants in a fight rather than spectators or people merely holding weapons.
noun / adjective

combatant

kum-BAT-unt/kəmˈbætnt/

A person or group engaged in or prepared for fighting.

Etymology
comLatinwith, together; sometimes thoroughly
+batLatinbeat or strike
+antOld Frenchdoing or being something

The underlying image is beating or fighting with one another. A participial description meaning “fighting” or “warlike” also served as a noun for someone engaged in battle, giving the word its participant sense.

Full entry

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