Also 8 batter-. [Fr.: formerly bastardeau, considered by Littré and Scheler to be a dim. of bastard ‘a dike,’ of doubtful origin: see Littré. (The idea that the termination is d’eau ‘of water’ is not entertained by French scholars.)] a. A coffer-dam. b. A wall built across the moat or ditch surrounding a fortification.
1767. Ducarel, Anglo-Norm. Antiq., 36. Laying the foundations of such piers under water … by means of a Batterdeaux.
1830. E. Campbell, Dict. Mil. Sc., 62. The Enemy may be greatly annoyed by means of certain works called Batard’eaux.
1862. F. Griffiths, Artill. Man., 262. A Batardeau is a solid piece of masonry, 7 or 8 feet thick, crossing the whole breadth of the ditch opposite the flanked angles of the bastions. It retains the water in those parts of the ditch which require to be inundated.
