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Fray vs Batter - What's the difference?

fray | batter |

As nouns the difference between fray and batter

is that fray is affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee while batter is a beaten mixture of flour and liquid (usually egg and milk), used for baking (e.g. pancakes, cake, or Yorkshire pudding) or to coat food (e.g. fish) prior to frying.

As verbs the difference between fray and batter

is that fray is to unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope while batter is to hit or strike violently and repeatedly.

fray

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) frai, aphetic variant of affray.

Noun

(en noun)
  • Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
  • Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray .
  • * Shakespeare
  • Who began this bloody fray ?
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Mark Vesty , title=Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Wigan, unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium, looked well in control but the catalyst for Arsenal's improvement finally came when Diaby left the field with a calf injury and Jack Wilshere came into the fray , bringing some much needed determination and urgency to lacklustre Arsenal. }}
  • (archaic) fright
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) fraien, from (etyl) frayer, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
  • The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
  • (figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
  • The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
  • (archaic) frighten; alarm
  • * 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:
  • "Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can never demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is anymore then the striking of a Bush where a Bird's Nest is, where you fray away the Bird, and then seize upon the empty Nest."
  • * Spenser
  • What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
  • To bear the expense of; to defray.
  • * Massinger
  • The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed , I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
  • To rub.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • We can show the marks he made / When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed .

    batter

    English

    (wikipedia batter)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • to hit or strike violently and repeatedly.
  • He battered his wife with a walking stick.
  • to coat with batter (the food ingredient).
  • I prefer it when they batter the cod with breadcrumbs.
  • to defeat soundly; to thrash
  • Leeds United battered Charlton 7-0.
  • (UK, slang, usually in the passive) To intoxicate
  • That cocktails will batter you!
    I was battered last night on our pub crawl.
  • (metalworking) To flatten (metal) by hammering, so as to compress it inwardly and spread it outwardly.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A beaten mixture of flour and liquid (usually egg and milk), used for baking (e.g. pancakes, cake, or Yorkshire pudding) or to coat food (e.g. fish) prior to frying
  • To the dismay of his mother, the boy put his finger into the cake batter .
  • A binge, a heavy drinking session.
  • When he went on a batter , he became very violent.
  • A paste of clay or loam.
  • (Holland)
  • (printing) A bruise on the face of a plate or of type in the form.
  • Etymology 3

    .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (architecture) To slope (of walls, buildings etc.).
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An incline on the outer face of a built wall.
  • Hydroseeding of unvegetated batters is planned.

    Etymology 4

    .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (baseball) The player attempting to hit the ball with a bat.
  • The first batter hit the ball into the corner for a double.
    Synonyms
    * (baseball) (l)

    Anagrams

    * English agent nouns ----