n. The act of battering; attack or assault, with the view of beating down, as by a battering-ram or by ordnance.n. In law, the unlawful beating of another. The least degree of violence, or even the touching or spitting in the face of another, in anger or insolence, constitutes a battery. Every battery includes an assault, though an assault does not necessarily imply that it must be such as to threaten a battery. See assault.n. The instrument or agency employed in battering or attacking: as, a battery of guns; a battery of abuse. Specificallyn. Milit.: A body of cannon for field operations, consisting generally of from 4 to 8 guns, with complement of wagons, artillerymen, etc. The armament of a ship of war: as, the Colorado's battery consists of 46 nine-inch guns.n. The personnel or complement of officers and men attached to a military battery.n. In fortification, a parapet thrown up to cover the gunners and others from the enemy's shot, with the guns employed; a fortified work mounting artillery.n. In base-ball, the pitcher and catcher together: as, the work of the battery was excellent.n. In frictional elect., a number of Leyden jars usually arranged with their inner coatings connected together, and their outer coatings also connected, so that they may all be charged and discharged at the same time.n. In voltaic elect., a voltaic cell, or more properly a number of voltaic cells (see cell) arranged together so as to give a powerful current of electricity.n. In optics, a series of lenses or of prisms, as in the spectroscope, combined in use.n. In machinery, an assemblage of similar constructions or parts: as, a battery of boilers; a battery of stamps in a stamping-mill; a battery of sugar-kettles.n. In the manufacture of nitric acid, a combination of large bottles and carboys serving as a condensing apparatus for the acid vapors.n. In hat-making, a large open boiler containing water to which some sulphuric acid has been added. It is surrounded by planks which slope toward the center, and is used in felting.n. Metals, or articles of metal, especially of brass or copper, wrought by hammering; hammered metals or utensils; especially, apparatus for preparing or serving meals; all metallic utensils of service for the kitchen. Compare batteria.n. An oblong box submerged to the rim in the water, used as a boat, and for concealment, by persons engaged in shooting wild fowl; a sink-boat.n. In coal-mining: A structure built of timber, to keep the coal in the breast or prevent it from sliding down the shute. A platform on which miners stand while working in thin and steeply pitching beds of coal.n. In lumbering, two or more donkey-engines for dragging logs, set at intervals on along skid-road.n. In indigo-manuf., a series of vats which are conducted as a unit. They may be either steeping-vats or beating-vats. See vat.n. A set of stamps in a stamp-mill, comprising the number which fall in one mortar.n. In cœlenterates, a group of stinging-cells.n. A shield or shelter designed to hide the shooters in a grouse-drive; a butt used on English and Scotch moors. They are usually formed of blocks of peat or turf, cut with a spade and built up in the form of a wall, circular, horseshoe, or semicircular in shape.n. In harpsichord music, an effect produced by striking a chord in quick repetition for greater sonority. It was indicated by prefixing a vertical curve to the notes of the chord.
