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

Far from protecting fellow Afghans, they used ropes, truncheons, sticks, whips, rifle butts, shots in the air and — when all else failed — shots in bodies to keep their compatriots back from a chance at escape.

From Los Angeles Times

During the crackdown, he pushed police officers beating a woman with truncheons.

From Seattle Times

Anyone at Inkwell Beach who attempted to wade over the color line was met with truncheons and police dogs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• baton