A stick-shaped object with specialised uses in policing, conducting, relay racing, twirling, ceremony, cooking, heraldry, and the related verb for striking with one.
Body-camera footage showed the baton strike clearly.
The herald described the baton as a reduced bend.
The officer kept a baton on his belt.
A baton may be used as a mark of difference in heraldry.
The majorette spun the baton above her head.
Similar words
twirling baton
wand
stick
staff
club
billy club
rod
beat
strip
majorette baton
Meanings
Police impact stick
noun
law enforcement
neutral
A short heavy stick carried by police or security forces as an impact weapon for restraint and crowd control.
Examples
The officer kept a baton on his belt.
Riot police were trained to use a baton only when necessary.
The security guard dropped his baton during the struggle.
Body-camera footage showed the baton strike clearly.
The department reviewed its baton policy after the protest.
Similar words
truncheon
nightstick
club
cudgel
billy club
stick
Conductor's rod
noun
music
neutral
A thin light stick used by a conductor to show tempo, entries, and expression to an ensemble.
Examples
The conductor lifted her baton, and the hall fell silent.
A clear baton beat helped the choir enter together.
He chose a lighter baton for the long rehearsal.
The orchestra watched the baton through the final bars.
Her baton technique made the tempo easy to follow.
Similar words
conducting stick
conducting rod
wand
Relay stick
noun
sport
neutral
A light tube or rod passed from one runner to the next in a relay race, also the source of the phrase about handing on responsibility.
Examples
The anchor runner took the baton in first place.
A dropped baton cost the team the medal.
They practiced the baton exchange until it was smooth.
The nonprofit's founder passed the baton to a new director.
Her hand was already moving when the baton reached her.
Similar words
relay baton
relay stick
Twirling baton
noun
performance
neutral
A balanced metal rod spun, tossed, and caught in marching, parade, or majorette routines.
Examples
The majorette spun the baton above her head.
A silver baton flashed under the stadium lights.
The routine ended with a difficult baton toss.
Children learned basic baton twirls before the parade.
She balanced the baton on one finger during the drill.
Similar words
twirling baton
majorette baton
Ceremonial staff
noun
ceremony
formal
A staff carried or presented as a visible sign of rank, office, command, or authority.
Examples
The marshal's baton was displayed beside his uniform.
A jeweled baton marked the general's rank.
The president presented a baton to the retiring commander.
The ceremonial baton appeared in the official portrait.
The old baton symbolized command rather than force.
Similar words
staff
rod
sceptre
mace
Food strip
noun
cooking
technical
A small stick-shaped piece of food, especially a vegetable cut into a neat rectangular strip.
Examples
Cut the courgette into even batons.
The salad was topped with crisp apple batons.
Carrot batons make a simple snack with hummus.
The chef fried potato batons until golden.
Keep the vegetable batons the same size so they cook evenly.
Similar words
stick
strip
batonnet
Narrow diagonal band
noun
heraldry
technical
A narrow diagonal band on a shield, usually shown as a reduced form of a bend in heraldry.
Examples
The arms included a red baton across the field.
A narrow baton marked the cadet branch.
The herald described the baton as a reduced bend.
The diagonal baton was easy to miss in the old drawing.
A baton may be used as a mark of difference in heraldry.
Similar words
bendlet
narrow bend
Strike with a baton
verb
law enforcement
neutral
To hit someone with a police baton or similar club.
Examples
Witnesses said police batoned several protesters.
The report alleged that guards batoned detainees in the corridor.
Officers were warned not to baton anyone who was already restrained.
Video showed a man being batoned near the gate.
The court examined whether the officer had batoned him lawfully.
Similar words
club
strike
beat
hit
Etymology
Borrowed from French bâton, meaning stick, staff, or club. The French word is connected with older Romance forms for a stick, but the deeper origin is uncertain.
FAQ
What does baton mean?
Baton usually means a specialised stick, such as a police truncheon, a conductor's rod, a relay tube, or a twirling prop.
Is a baton a weapon?
In law enforcement, a baton is a club or truncheon used as an impact weapon, but the word has many non-weapon senses.
What is a conductor's baton?
A conductor's baton is a thin light rod used to show tempo, entries, and expression to an ensemble.
What does pass the baton mean?
It comes from relay racing and means to hand responsibility or leadership to another person.
Can baton be a verb?
Yes. As a verb, baton means to strike someone with a baton, especially in police or security contexts.
Where does baton come from?
Baton comes from French bâton, meaning stick, staff, or club.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.