baton

noun

ba·​ton bə-ˈtän 

ba-,

also

ˈba-tᵊn 

plural batons

1

: cudgel, truncheon

specifically : billy club

2

: a staff borne as a symbol of office

3

: a narrow heraldic bend

4

: a slender rod with which a leader directs a band or orchestra

5

: a hollow cylinder carried by each member of a relay team and passed to the succeeding runner

6

: a hollow metal rod with a weighted bulb at one or both ends that is flourished by a drum major or drum majorette

7

: a piece of food that has been cut into a narrow strip that is thicker than a julienned piece of food

We cut carrots into slabs, then batons, then dice.

—Janet Rausa Fuller

Synonyms

• bastinado
• bastinade
• bat
• billy
• billy club
• bludgeon
• cane
• club
• cudgel
• nightstick
• rod
• rung [Scottish]
• sap
• shillelagh
• shillalah
• staff
• truncheon
• waddy [Australian]

Examples of baton in a Sentence

The majorette twirled the baton.

the detainee claimed that the police had beat him with their batons even after he had been shackled

Recent Examples on the Web

Indy can pick up pretty much anything from broomsticks to batons to protect himself and can engage in a relatively complex version of POV fisticuffs that allows players to block, parry, and punch with either hand. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024

After more than two minutes, Officer Laxman Acharya, also with the Fourth Division, arrived and attempted to use an expandable baton to gain leverage over one of Thompson's arms. —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 4 Dec. 2024

The brand offers a host of customization options, including up to 10 different ornamental stone dials, and the meteorite dial, up to five different colors for the leather strap, a case in either white or rose gold, and the option for either the new dauphine-style hands or the original batons. —Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 31 Oct. 2024

Maggie Henriquez, chief executive officer at Baccarat since 2022, is passing the crystal baton to Printemps executive Laurence Nicolas, who will take up the management helm of the French luxury firm in early 2025. —Miles Socha, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French bâton, from Old French baston, ultimately from Late Latin bastum stick

First Known Use

1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing baton

• passed the baton

Kids Definition

baton

noun

ba·​ton bə-ˈtän 

ba-

1

: a staff borne as a symbol of office

2

: a stick with which a leader directs a band or orchestra

3

: a hollow rod passed from one member of a relay team to another

4

: a staff with a ball at one or both ends carried by a drum major or baton twirler