spontoon

My mercer had his spontoon in his hand, as if he measured his cloth by that implement, instead of a legitimate yard.

When Balbi wrote that his walls were hung with pictures of saints, it became a question of conveying the spontoon to him.

Holding his spontoon ready, but concealed under his coat, he stepped to the side of the door.

Spontoon' (to an elderly military-looking servant out of livery),'take away these things, and answer the bell yourself, if I ring.