baton

noun batons · bâton

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. The conductor raised his baton and the orchestra fell silent.
4. An object transferred by runners in a relay race. In the relay race, the runner dropped the baton.
5. A rod twirled in a marching band's performance, in a gymnastic sport, or in juggling.
6. US A short stout club used primarily by policemen. The police officer carried a baton for self-defense.

   Similar: billy club, nightstick, truncheon

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. Alternative forms: batune, baston
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.

Similar: wand, rod, bat, club

verb batons · batoning · batoned · bâton

1. figuratively, transitive To strike with a baton. She passed the baton to her successor after retiring.