Origin: 1500-1600 French bâton, from Late Latin bastum stick
1eng. lang. arts a short thin stick used by a conductor (=the leader of a group of musicians) to direct the music2a light metal stick that is spun and thrown into the air by someone marching with a band3a short thick stick used as a weapon by a police officerSYN nightstick4a short light stick that is passed from one person to another during a race