v. Obs. or dial. [? f. BATTER v.1 + FANG a claw.] Explained in glossaries as: To assail with fists and nails, to beat and beclaw; but in use apparently = BATTER v.1 1.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., II. 191/2. The poore man was so batterfanged and belabour’d with tongue mettle, that he was weary of his life.
1716. T. Ward, Eng. Ref., 124. The Pastor lays on lusty Bangs, Whitehead the Pastor Batterfangs.
1864. Atkinson, Whitby Gloss., Batterfang’d, beaten and beclawed, as a termagant will fight with her fists and nails.
1877. in E. Peacock, Manley (Linc.) Gloss., s.v., He’d been a soldger in th’ Roosian war, an’ came home strangely batterfanged about.
