baton

UK: /ˈbætɒn/ US: /bəˈtɑn, bæ-/ ,(bə ton′, ba-, bat′n)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ba•ton /bəˈtɑn, bæ-/   n. [countable]

1. Music and Dance a light, thin wand with which a conductor directs an orchestra or band:
   He indicated the beat with his baton.
2. a metal rod twirled by a leader of a marching band.
3. Sport a thin cylinder passed from one member of a relay team to the next.
4. a short heavy stick carried by a police officer.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ba•ton  (bə ton′, ba-, bat′n), n. 

1. Music and Dance 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. Sport [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, esp. one serving as a mark of office or authority.
5. 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.

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

Synonyms

• 4. mace, scepter, crosier, rod, wand; fasces; caduceus.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

baton / ˈbætən -tɒn/ noun

1. a thin stick used by the conductor of an orchestra, choir, etc, to indicate rhythm or expression
2. a short stick carried for use as a weapon, as by a police officer; truncheon
3. 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

Etymology: 16th Century: from French bâton, from Late Latin bastum rod, probably ultimately from Greek bastazein to lift up, carry