also 6–9 battle. [See prec., and next, and cf. BATTLE v.3]
1. In the University of Oxford: To have a kitchen and buttery account in college; to be supplied with provisions from the buttery. (For earlier use see quotations, and cf. the sb. above.)
1570. Levins, Manip., /38. Battle commons, sumere.
1632. Sherwood, Battle (as schollers doe in Oxford), estre debteur au College pour ses vivres.
1678. Phillips (App.), Battle, in the University of Oxford is taken for to run on to Exceedings above the ordinary stint of the appointed Commons.
1721. Bailey, Battle (in the University of Oxford) is to take up Provision in the College-Book.
a. 1733. North, Lives, I. 300. He kept a table there, and his family were allowed to battle in the butteries.
1791–1824. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1866), II. 168. To battle is to be nourished, a term still retained at the University of Oxford.
1884. Regul. Merton College. Undergraduates who live in lodgings are charged terminally, if they battel in College, £2 5s. 6d.
† 2. (?) To put into a common fund or stock. Obs.
1600. Heywood, If you know not, Wks. 1874, I. 243. And you be a true subject, you’ll battle with vs your faggot [towards making a bonfire].
1606. Dekker, Sev. Sins, III. (Arb.), 26. [He] slips into a Tauerne, where either alone, or with some other that battles their money together, they plye themselues with penny pots.
