(as opposed to butting)

you know, it occurred to me when I posted the OED stuff that I should mention that, in as much as it was used as a siege engine, the battering-ram was related to batteries of artillery, but no....
battering vbl n. 1. The action of beating with successive blows, esp. in Mil. of attacking a fortification with cannon or other engines. Also fig.
2. The result of this action; bruising or defacement caused by successive blows.
3. attrib. a. in ancient warfare, battering-engine, an engine constructed for breaking down walls; so battering-machine, battering-ram. b. in modern warfare, battering-train, a number of cannon specially intended for siege purposes; so battering-artillery, -cannon, -gun, -piece. c. battering-charge, the full charge of powder for a cannon.