truncheon

American  

[truhn-chuhn] / ˈtrʌn tʃən /

noun

1. the club carried by a police officer; billy.

2. a staff representing an office or authority; baton.

3. the shattered shaft of a spear.

4. Obsolete. cudgel; bludgeon.

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verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to beat with a club.

truncheon British  

/ ˈtrʌntʃən /

noun

1. a short thick club or cudgel carried by a policeman

2. a baton of office

   a marshal's truncheon

3. archaic a short club or cudgel

4. the shaft of a spear

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verb

1. (tr) to beat with a truncheon

Etymology

Origin of truncheon

1300–50; Middle English tronchon fragment < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *trunciōn-, stem of *trunciō literally, a lopping. See trunk, -ion

Example Sentences

Children giggle and run as kilikis with soft foam truncheons bop them if they get too close.

From Salon

He said policemen whose job was to control the crowds in front of the emergency department only carried truncheons.

From Seattle Times

He said Kazimirov was held on his knees for several hours in custody and beaten with truncheons.

From Reuters

"I always have rings on my fingers and a truncheon with me. Now I also have a machete," read a message sent by one Last Legion member to another, intercepted by the police.

From Reuters

One video, widely shared on social media, appeared to show officers hitting a man on the ground with their truncheons.

From BBC

Related Words

• baton