[a. F. bât pack-saddle, OF. bast:—late L. bastum, perhaps connected with Gr. βαστ-άζειν to bear.]
1. A pack-saddle. Only in comb., as bat-needle, a packing-needle (obs.); bât-horse (F. cheval de bât), a sumpter-beast, a horse that carries the baggage of military officers, during a campaign; as bât-mule. See also BATMAN.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. VII. 218. To brochen hem with a battenelde · and bond hem to-gederes.
1578. Richmond Wills (1853), 279. Batt nedles, ij s.
1787. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 137. Putting my baggage into portable form for my bat-mule.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea, II. 144. It was found necessary to dispense with the bât horses of the army.
1879. Pall Mall Budg., 17 Oct., 20. A new pack-saddle for bat mules or horses has been invented by an officer of the French military train.
2. In bat-money: An allowance for carrying baggage in the field. Sometimes confused with BATTA.
1793. Pitt, in G. Rose, Diaries (1860), I. 127. He shall have directions about the bât and forage money.
1808. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., IV. 82. I should make an issue of bât and forage money to the Officers.
1813. Sir R. Wilson, Priv. Diary, II. 279. Lord Castlereagh also notes that my income will be suitably augmented by a bât and forage allowance.
