A batillum or vatillum was an ancient Roman iron shovel with a short handle used for various purposes, especially as a fire-shovel, chafing-dish, and for burning incense.
The name is possibly related to "the exercise of soldiers and gladiators in fighting and fencing" which is related to the English verb or to a vessel (in some Latinate languages 'b' and 'v' can be interchangeable).