baton

Meanings

Plural: batons

Noun

• a thin tapered rod used by a conductor to lead an orchestra or choir
• a short stout club used primarily by policemen
• a short staff carried by some officials to symbolize an office or an authority
• a hollow metal rod that is wielded or twirled by a drum major or drum majorette
• a hollow cylinder passed from runner to runner in a relay race
• A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
• A ceremonial staff of a field marshal or a similar high-ranking military office.
• The stick of a conductor in musical performances.
• An object transferred by runners in a relay race.
• A rod twirled in a marching band's performance, in a gymnastic sport, or in juggling.
• A short stout club used primarily by policemen.
• A bend with the ends cut off, resembling a baton, typically borne sinister, and often used as a mark of cadency, initially for both legitimate and illegitimate children, but later chiefly for illegitimate children.
• A short vertical lightweight post, not set into the ground, used to separate wires in a fence.
• A batonnet, a long slice of a vegetable, thicker than a julienne.
• A short baguette.

Verb

• To strike with a baton.

Synonyms

bat, billy, billy club, billystick, club, nightstick, rod, truncheon, wand

Related Words

baston, batonnet