E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Batta
or Batty (Hindustanee). Perquisites; wages. Properly, an allowance to East Indian troops in the field. In garrison they are put on half-batta.
1
“He would rather live on half-pay in a garrison that could boast of a fives-court, than vegetate on full batta where there was none.”—G. R. Gleig: Thomas Munro, vol. i. chap. iv. p. 227.
