battledore: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Historical/Archaic)Archaic / Historical / Literary
Quick answer
What does “battledore” mean?
A light racket used for striking a shuttlecock in an early form of badminton.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A light racket used for striking a shuttlecock in an early form of badminton.
Historically, a wooden paddle used in a children's game of hitting a shuttlecock back and forth. By extension, any paddle-shaped implement or the name of the game itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in modern usage, as the term is largely obsolete in both varieties. Historically more common in UK texts.
Connotations
Evokes Victorian or Edwardian-era children's games, rustic pastimes, and antiquated sports equipment.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech or writing in both regions. Found in historical novels, descriptions of period games, or as a metaphorical phrase.
Grammar
How to Use “battledore” in a Sentence
to play battledore (and shuttlecock)to bandy like a battledore and shuttlecockVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “battledore” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The politicians continued to battledore the issue back and forth without resolution. (rare, figurative)
American English
- They battledored accusations across the conference table. (rare, figurative)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically, in phrases like 'The proposal became a battledore and shuttlecock between departments.'
Academic
In historical or sports history papers discussing the evolution of racket games.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
In museology or antique collecting descriptions of historical games and toys.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “battledore”
- Using 'battledore' to refer to a modern badminton racket.
- Misspelling as 'battledoor'.
- Using it as a common noun in contemporary contexts where 'paddle' or 'racket' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A battledore is a historical predecessor. It is typically a simple, solid paddle, often made of wood, whereas a modern badminton racket is strung and much more technologically advanced.
Very rarely and only in a figurative, often archaic or literary sense, meaning to bandy or hit something back and forth as in the game.
Almost never in active vocabulary. It survives mainly in historical references and in the fixed metaphorical phrase 'battledore and shuttlecock'.
It comes from Middle English 'batyldour', which referred to a beetle (a tool for beating) or a washing bat, likely from Old Provençal 'batedor' (beater), from 'batre' (to beat). Its use for a toy racket developed later.
A light racket used for striking a shuttlecock in an early form of badminton.
Battledore is usually archaic / historical / literary in register.
Battledore: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbæt(ə)ldɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbætəlˌdɔr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a game of battledore and shuttlecock (used to describe an argument or responsibility being passed back and forth)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BAT hitting a BALL, but it's a BATTLEDORE hitting a SHUTTLECOCK on a DOORstep (played outdoors).
Conceptual Metaphor
A RECIPROCAL ACTION IS A GAME OF BATTLE-DORE AND SHUTTLECOCK (e.g., a futile exchange).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'battledore' most likely to be found?