Battening

To become better; improve in condition, especially by feeding.

To feed (on); to revel (in).

To thrive by feeding; grow fat; feed oneself gluttonously.

To thrive, prosper, or live in luxury, especially at the expense of others; fare sumptuously.

"Robber barons who battened on the poor"

A thin strip of wood used in construction to hold members of a structure together or to provide a fixing point.

A long strip of wood, metal, fibreglass etc., used for various purposes aboard ship, especially one inserted in a pocket sewn on the sail in order to keep the sail flat.

In stagecraft, a long pipe, usually metal, affixed to the ceiling or fly system in a theater.

The movable bar of a loom, which strikes home or closes the threads of a woof.

To furnish with battens.

To fasten or secure a hatch etc using battens.