baton

Meanings

1. A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes.
2. A ceremonial staff of a field marshal or a similar high-ranking military office.
3. The stick of a conductor in musical performances.
4. An object transferred by runners in a relay race.
5. A rod twirled in a marching band's performance, in a gymnastic sport, or in juggling.
6. A short stout club used primarily by policemen.
7. 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.
8. A short vertical lightweight post, not set into the ground, used to separate wires in a fence.
9. A batonnet, a long slice of a vegetable, thicker than a julienne.
10. A short baguette.

1. To strike with a baton.

Etymology

From French bâton. Doublet of baston.