Battens

Battens (a mis-spelling of the French baton), small strips of firwood, used either as cross pieces to keep boards placed side by side together or to fasten tiles and slates, or nailed over the edge of a ship's hatchway so as to fasten a tarpaulin over it and prevent water leaking in when seas are shipped (in which case the hatches are said to be "battened down"), or for other purposes.