Английский Этимологический словарь - batter (1)

- "strike repeatedly," c.1330, from O.Fr. battre "to beat, strike," from L. battuere "to beat," from Gaulish, from PIE base *bhat- "to strike." Began to be widely used 1962 in reference to domestic abuse. Battering-ram is an ancient weapon, but the word attested only from 1611.