(US, idiomatic) From the start; immediately; right away.

(cricket) Each of a pair of protective gloves worn by a batsman to prevent damage to the fingers and hands

(cricket) a bat, traditionally made from willow, used to play cricket

Any of the three small bats of the subfamily Desmodontinae, native to South America, which use their teeth to nick larger animals while they are asleep, allowing it to surreptitiously lap a blood meal.

(cricket) The bat when held vertically, or when swung through a vertical arc.

Alternative form of bat an eyelid

(baseball) Preparing to have or having one's turn to attempt to hit the ball.

(baseball) The speed of the bat during a swing.

(intransitive, baseball) To have each of a team's batting line-up positions complete an at-bat in the same half-inning.

The catching of small birds at night by lighting a fire near their roost, then scaring them awake whereupon they fly towards the flames and can be caught in nets on poles.