Batten

Batten-n
1-a thin flexible strip of wood or plastic inserted in pockets at the edge of a sail to keep it taut and flat
2-a narrow metal or wooden slat used to fasten down the edges of a tarpaulin coverign a ship's raised hatch in poor weather
3-a row of lights in a theater, or the strip or bar that holds it

vt
to provide, strengthen, or secure something with battens

Synonyms
strip of wood
board
slat
plank
bar
block
panel