A baton is a short heavy stick which is sometimes used as a weapon by the police.
[British]regional note: in AM, use billy, billy club
2. countable noun
A baton is a light, thin stick used by a conductor to conduct an orchestra or a choir.
3. countable noun
In athletics or track events, a baton is a short stick that is passed from one runner to another in a relay race.
4. countable noun
A baton is a long stick with a knob on one end that is sometimes carried by a person marching in a parade. The baton is spun round, thrown into the air and caught.
5.
See hand over the baton/pass the baton/pick up the baton
More Synonyms of baton
baton in British English
(ˈbætən, -tɒn)
noun
1.
a thin stick used by the conductor of an orchestra, choir, etc, to indicate rhythm or expression
2.
a.
a short stick carried for use as a weapon, as by a police officer; truncheon
b.
(as modifier)
a baton charge
3. athletics
a short bar carried by a competitor in a relay race and transferred to the next runner at the end of each stage
4.
a long stick with a knob on one end, carried, twirled, and thrown up and down by a drum major or drum majorette, esp at the head of a parade
5.
a staff or club carried by an official as a symbol of authority
6. heraldry
a single narrow diagonal line superimposed on all other charges, esp one curtailed at each end, signifying a bastard line
Word origin
C16: from French bâton, from Late Latin bastum rod, probably ultimately from Greek bastazein to lift up, carry
baton in American English
(bəˈtɑn; bæˈtɑn; British ˈbæˌtɑn)
noun
1.
a staff serving as a symbol of office
2. Heraldry
a short, narrow bend: in England, a baton placed diagonally right to left (as seen by the viewer) and cut short at both ends signifies bastardy
see also bend sinister
3.
a slender stick used by a conductor in directing an orchestra, choir, etc.
4. US
a hollow metal rod, with a knob at one or at each end, twirled in a showy way by a drum major or drum majorette
5.
the short, light rod passed from one runner to the next in a relay race
A baton is a short heavy stick which is sometimes used as a weapon by the police.
American English: billy
Brazilian Portuguese: cassetete
Chinese: > 指挥棒乐队
European Spanish: porra
French: matraque
German: Stock
Italian: manganello
Japanese: 警棒
Korean: 지휘봉
European Portuguese: cassetete
Latin American Spanish: cachiporra
All related terms of 'baton'
Baton Rouge
the capital of Louisiana , in the SE part on the Mississippi River . Pop: 225 090 (2003 est)
baton round
a solid PVC cylinder , 10 cm long and 38 mm in diameter , fired by police or military forces to regain control in riots
baton charge
A baton charge is an attacking forward movement made by a large group of police officers carrying batons.
baton twirler
someone who twirls a baton , esp a drum major or majorette
pass the baton
to give responsibility for something to someone else
bâton de commandement
an antler object found in Upper Palaeolithic sites from the Aurignacian period onwards , consisting of a rod , often ornately decorated , with a hole through the thicker end
electro-shock baton
a baton used as a weapon to pass an electric current through part of the body
pick up the baton
to take over responsibility for something
plastic bullet
A plastic bullet is a large bullet made of plastic, which is intended to make people stop rioting, rather than to kill people.
hand over the baton/pass the baton/pick up the baton
If someone passes the baton to another person, they pass responsibility for something to that person. If someone picks up the baton , they take over responsibility for something.
Chinese translation of 'baton'
baton
(ˈbætən; USbəˈtɑːn)
n(c)
(Mus) 指挥(揮)棒 (zhǐhuībàng) (根, gēn)
(in athletics) 接力棒 (jiēlìbàng) (根, gēn)
(Brit, = truncheon) 警棍 (jǐnggùn) (根, gēn)
(noun)
Definition
a short stick or something shaped like one
I could see a baton being used vigorously.
Synonyms
stick
Crowds armed with sticks and stones took to the streets.
club
Men armed with knives and clubs attacked his home.
staff
We carried a staff that was notched at various lengths.
stake
Drive in a stake before planting the tree.
pole
The sign hung at the top of a large pole.
rod
It was a witch-doctor's rod.
crook
cane
mace
a life-size statue of the king holding a golden mace
wand
a magician's wand
truncheon (British)
He swung his truncheon at him, knocking him to the ground.
sceptre
mere (New Zealand)
patu (New Zealand)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of club
Definition
a stout stick used as a weapon
Men armed with knives and clubs attacked his home.
Synonyms
stick,
bat,
bludgeon,
truncheon (British),
cosh (British),
cudgel
in the sense of mace
Definition
a club with a spiked metal head used in the Middle Ages
a life-size statue of the king holding a golden mace
Synonyms
staff,
club,
stick,
cosh,
cudgel
in the sense of pole
Definition
a long slender rounded piece of wood, metal, or other material