Definition
To catch birds at night by dazzling them with light and then hitting them with a stick or net.
Etymology
Compound of 'bat' (to hit or the stick used in hitting) and 'fowl' (birds). This medieval hunting technique combined the words for the tool and prey.
Kelly Says
Batfowling was a common poaching method in medieval and early modern Europe—you'd use torches to confuse roosting birds at night, then whack them down with sticks, which is equal parts ingenious and hilarious.
Translations
CACatalà
ratpenat
rat-pe-nat
CSČeština
netopýr
ne-toh-pe-er
DADansk
flyvemus
flee-ve-moos
DEDeutsch
Fledermaus
fleh-der-mow-s
ELΕλληνικά
βατράχας
va-tra-has
ESEspañol
ave murciélago
ah-veh mur-thee-ah-gah-loh
FISuomi
lepakko
le-pak-ko
FRFrançais
chauve-souris
shov-swa-ree
HAHA
karkashin
kar-ka-shin
HIहिन्दी
चमगादड़
cha-ma-ga-da-d
HUMagyar
fülönc
fool-onch
IDBahasa Indonesia
kelelawar
ke-le-la-war
ITItaliano
pipistrello
pee-pee-strel-loh
MSBahasa Melayu
kelelawar
ke-le-la-war
NLNederlands
vleermuis
vler-myce
NONorsk
flygemus
flee-ge-moos
PLPolski
nietoperz
nyeh-toh-perz
PTPortuguês
morcego
mor-seh-guh
RORomână
liliac
lee-lee-ak
RUРусский
летучая мышь
lyetuchaya mysh
SVSvenska
flygare
flee-gah-reh
TLTL
paruparo
pa-ru-pa-roh
UKУкраїнська
літучий миш
lee-too-chee mysh
URاردو
چمگادڑ
cham-ga-dar
ZUZU
inkanyamba
in-ka-nyam-ba