Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Batter \Bat"ter\ (b[a^]t"t[~e]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Battered}
   (-t[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Battering}.] [OE. bateren, OF.
   batre, F. battre, fr. LL. battere, for L. batuere to strike,
   beat; of unknown origin. Cf. {Abate}, {Bate} to abate.]
   1. To beat with successive blows; to beat repeatedly and with
      violence, so as to bruise, shatter, or demolish; as, to
      batter a wall or rampart.

   2. To wear or impair as if by beating or by hard usage.
      ``Each battered jade.'' --Pope.

   3. (Metallurgy) To flatten (metal) by hammering, so as to
      compress it inwardly and spread it outwardly.

Source : WordNet®

battering
     n : the act of subjecting to strong attack [syn: {banging}]