baton

Etymology

From French bâton. Doublet of baston.

noun

1. A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
   A field marshal's baton
2. (music) The stick of a conductor in musical performances.
3. (sports) An object transferred by runners in a relay race.
4. (US) A short stout club used primarily by policemen; a truncheon (UK).
5. (heraldry) A bend with the ends cut off, resembling a baton, typically borne sinister, and often used as a mark of cadency, initially for both legitimate and illegitimate children, but later chiefly for illegitimate children.
   Alternative forms: batune, baston
   Coordinate term: scrape
6. A short vertical lightweight post, not set into the ground, used to separate wires in a fence.

verb

1. To strike with a baton.