baton
[ buh-ton, ba-, bat-n ]
/ bəˈtɒn, bæ-, ˈbæt n /
noun
Music.
a wand used by a conductor.
a rod of lightweight metal fitted with a weighted bulb at each end and carried and twirled by a drum major or majorette.
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.
a staff, club, or truncheon, especially one serving as a mark of office or authority.
Heraldry.
- a diminutive of the bend sinister, couped at the extremities: used in England as a mark of bastardy.
- a similar diminutive of the ordinary bend.
Origin of baton
1540–50; < Middle French
bâton, Old French
baston < Vulgar Latin
*bastōn- (stem of
*bastō) stick, club; compare Late Latin
bastum staff
Words nearby baton
batiste,
batley,
batlle y ordóñez,
batman,
batna,
baton,
baton rouge,
baton round,
baton twirler,
batophobia,
batrachian
Example sentences from the Web for baton
British Dictionary definitions for baton
baton
/ (ˈbætən, -tɒn) /
noun
a thin stick used by the conductor of an orchestra, choir, etc, to indicate rhythm or expression
- a short stick carried for use as a weapon, as by a policeman; truncheon
- (as modifier)a baton charge
athletics
a short bar carried by a competitor in a relay race and transferred to the next runner at the end of each stage
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
a staff or club carried by an official as a symbol of authority
heraldry
a single narrow diagonal line superimposed on all other charges, esp one curtailed at each end, signifying a bastard line
Word Origin for baton
C16: from French
bâton, from Late Latin
bastum rod, probably ultimately from Greek
bastazein to lift up, carry
Cultural definitions for baton
baton
A stick used by some conductors of choruses or orchestras. The baton is traditionally used to indicate the tempo of the music.