batman

bat-man · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    [British military, historical]A soldier assigned to serve as a personal servant to an officer.

  2. 2.

    A fictional superhero created by DC Comics, also known as the Dark Knight.

Forms

plural: batmen

Related words

See also: orderly, servant, valet
Synonyms: orderly, servant, valet

Etymology

For the military sense: From Old French bat ("packsaddle"), referring to a servant who managed the officer's pack horse. The term has nothing to do with "bat" (the animal or the stick). For the superhero: Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger in 1939, named for the character's bat-themed costume.