noun
bat
BAT/bæt/
A usually nocturnal mammal with wings made of thin skin.
The bat flies with skin-covered wings beneath the small moon.
Etymology
Middle English bakke already named the animal. It was probably related to Scandinavian names suggesting a “flapper,” so the name may originally have highlighted wing movement.
In context
They're acrobats, engineers, and disease carriers, all packed into one misunderstood mammal. But hold on, the bat isn't the only master of the night.
More examples
- Several bats emerged at dusk.
- The bat folded its wings.
- They watched a bat cross the clearing.
Forms
bat · bats
Similar words
- mammal
- The animal class to which bats belong, despite their flight.