baton

American  

[buh-ton, ba-, bat-n] / bəˈtɒn, bæ-, ˈbæt n /

noun

1. Music. a wand used by a conductor.

2. a rod of lightweight metal fitted with a weighted bulb at each end and carried and twirled by a drum major or majorette.

3. Track. a hollow rod of wood, paper, or plastic that is passed during a race from one member of a relay team to the next in a prescribed area.

4. a staff, club, or truncheon, especially one serving as a mark of office or authority.

   Synonyms:

   caduceus, fasces, wand, rod, crosier, scepter, mace

5. Heraldry.

   1. a diminutive of the bend sinister, couped at the extremities: used in England as a mark of bastardy.

   2. a similar diminutive of the ordinary bend.

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baton British  

/ -tɒn, ˈbætən /

noun

1. a thin stick used by the conductor of an orchestra, choir, etc, to indicate rhythm or expression

2. 1. a short stick carried for use as a weapon, as by a policeman; truncheon

   2. ( as modifier )

      a baton charge

3. athletics a short bar carried by a competitor in a relay race and transferred to the next runner at the end of each stage

4. a long stick with a knob on one end, carried, twirled, and thrown up and down by a drum major or drum majorette, esp at the head of a parade

5. a staff or club carried by an official as a symbol of authority

6. heraldry a single narrow diagonal line superimposed on all other charges, esp one curtailed at each end, signifying a bastard line

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baton Cultural  

1. A stick used by some conductors of choruses or orchestras. The baton is traditionally used to indicate the tempo of the music.

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Etymology

Origin of baton

1540–50; < Middle French bâton, Old French baston < Vulgar Latin *bastōn- (stem of *bastō ) stick, club; compare Late Latin bastum staff

Example Sentences

“If the baton can be passed and the rally can broaden out then we wouldn’t be surprised to see a rally into year end and into the beginning of next year.”

From Barron's

Brown is expected to hand the baton to Lippe eventually, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Just like my mother took a brave step and opened up about our family’s depression to me, I took her baton, and let it rip on the Clown Palace stage.

From Salon

LeBron James picked up the baton with 18 over the next two quarters.

From Los Angeles Times

"I wrote him a letter, before they started, passing the baton as it were," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• cudgel
• mace
• nightstick
• rod
• truncheon
• wand