baton

English

/ˈbætɒn/, /bəˈtɑn/

noun
Definitions
  • A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes
  • (music) The stick of a conductor in musical performances.
  • (sports) An object transferred by runners in a relay race.
  • (US) A short stout club used primarily by policemen; a truncheon UK.
  • (heraldiccharge) An abatement in coats of arms to denote illegitimacy. (Also spelled batune, baston).
  • (heraldiccharge) A riband with the ends cut off, resembling a baton, as shown on a coat of arms.
  • A short vertical lightweight post, not set into the ground, used to separate wires in a fence.

Etymology

Borrowed from French bâton.

Origin

French

bâton

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms