bats
bats Lexical Profile
bats Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Nocturnal flying mammals of the order Chiroptera, having membranous wings that extend between the fingers and limbs and navigating primarily by echolocation.
"At dusk, ratusan of bats emerged from the limestone cave to hunt for nocturnal insects."
Wooden or metal clubs or paddles used for striking the ball in sports such as baseball, cricket, and table tennis.
"The players lined their wooden bats up against the dugout fence before the game began."
• verb
To take a turn at hitting the ball with a bat in sports such as baseball or cricket.
"The team's strongest hitter usually bats fourth in the starting lineup."
To hit or swipe at something with a quick, light stroke of the hand or paw.
"The curious kitten playfully bats at the dangling string whenever someone walks by."
To flutter or blink rapidly (used of the eyes or eyelashes).
"She never even bats an eye when asked to solve complex crisis situations under pressure."
• adjective
Mentally unstable, eccentric, or crazy (used predicatively in informal contexts).
"Being cooped up inside the cabin during the week-long blizzard drove everyone a little bats."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as an informal adjective meaning crazy or eccentric, 'bats' is strictly used predicatively (after a linking verb, as in 'she went bats') and never directly before a noun.
• Rhymes for bats
Word Origin & Etymology
The informal adjective sense meaning 'crazy' arose in the early 20th century as a shortening of the idiom 'to have bats in the belfry', comparing a confused mind to a church bell tower full of fluttering bats.