battledore

英 ['bæt(ə)ldɔː] 美['bætl,dor]

battledore (n.): mid-15c., "bat-like implement used in washing clothes," of unknown origin, perhaps from Old Provençal batedor, Spanish batidor "beater, bat," from batir "to beat;" perhaps blended with Middle English betel "hammer, mallet." As a trype of racket used in a game, from 1590s.

1. Because of poverty father had no schooling and almost didn't know a B from a battledore.: 由于贫穷,父亲没有受过教育,几乎是目不识丁.