Word Study
baton
CIDE DICTIONARY
baton, n. [F. b. See Baston.].
- A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes; as, the baton of a field marshal; the baton of a conductor in musical performances. [1913 Webster]"He held the baton of command." [1913 Webster]
- An ordinary with its ends cut off, borne sinister as a mark of bastardy, and containing one fourth in breadth of the bend sinister; -- called also
bastard bar . See Bend sinister. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
baton, n.
1 a thin stick used by a conductor to direct an orchestra, choir, etc.
2 Athletics a short stick or tube carried and passed on by the runners in a relay race.
3 a long stick carried and twirled by a drum major.
4 a staff of office or authority, esp. a Field Marshal's.
5 a policeman's truncheon.
6 Heraldry a narrow truncated bend.
7 Horol. a short bar replacing some figures on dials.
1 a thin stick used by a conductor to direct an orchestra, choir, etc.
2 Athletics a short stick or tube carried and passed on by the runners in a relay race.
3 a long stick carried and twirled by a drum major.
4 a staff of office or authority, esp. a Field Marshal's.
5 a policeman's truncheon.
6 Heraldry a narrow truncated bend.
7 Horol. a short bar replacing some figures on dials.
Idiom
baton round a rubber or plastic bullet.
Etymology
F b{acirc}ton, baston ult. f. LL bastum stick
THESAURUS
baton
Malacca cane, achievement, alerion, alpenstock, animal charge, annulet, argent, armorial bearings, armory, arms, aspersion, attaint, azure, badge, badge of infamy, badge of office, badges, bandeau, bar, bar sinister, bastardism, bastardy, bat, bearings, bend, bend sinister, billet, billy, billy club, black eye, black mark, blazon, blazonry, blot, bludgeon, blur, bordure, brand, brassard, broad arrow, button, cadency mark, caduceus, cane, canton, cap and gown, censure, chain, chain of office, champain, chaplet, charge, chevron, chief, class ring, club, coat of arms, cockade, cockatrice, collar, coronet, crescent, crest, crook, crosier, cross, cross moline, cross-staff, crown, crutch, crutch-stick, decoration, device, diapason, difference, differencing, disparagement, dress, eagle, emblems, ensigns, ermine, ermines, erminites, erminois, escutcheon, falcon, fasces, fess, fess point, field, figurehead, file, flanch, fleur-de-lis, fret, fur, fusil, garland, gavel, griffin, gules, gyron, hammer and sickle, handstaff, hatchment, helmet, heraldic device, heraldry, honor point, illegitimacy, illegitimateness, impalement, impaling, imputation, inescutcheon, insignia, label, lapel pin, lion, lituus, livery, lozenge, mace, mantle, mantling, mark of Cain, markings, marshaling, martlet, mascle, medal, metal, metronome, monochord, mortarboard, motto, mullet, music stand, mute, nightstick, nombril point, octofoil, old school tie, onus, or, ordinary, orle, pale, paly, pastoral staff, paterissa, pean, pheon, pillorying, pin, pitch pipe, point champain, portfolio, purpure, quarter, quartering, quarterstaff, reflection, regalia, reprimand, reproach, rhythmometer, ring, rod, rod of office, rose, sable, saltire, scepter, school ring, scutcheon, shamrock, shield, shillelagh, sigillography, skull and crossbones, slur, smear, smirch, smudge, smutch, sonometer, sphragistics, spot, spread eagle, staff, stain, stave, stick, stigma, stigmatism, stigmatization, subordinary, swagger stick, swanking stick, swastika, taint, tarnish, tartan, tenne, thistle, tie, tincture, tone measurer, torse, tressure, truncheon, tuning bar, tuning fork, tuning pipe, unicorn, uniform, vair, verge, vert, walking stick, wand, wand of office, war club, wreath, yaleROGET THESAURUS
baton
Scepter
N scepter, regalia, caduceus, Mercury's rod, Mercury's staff, Mercury's wand, rod of empire, mace, fasces, wand, staff, staff of office, baton, truncheon, flag, ensign of authority, emblem of authority, badge of authority, insignia of authority, throne, chair, musnud, divan, dais, woolsack, toga, pall, mantle, robes of state, ermine, purple, crown, coronet, diadem, tiara, cap of maintenance, decoration, title, portfolio, key, signet, seals, talisman, helm, reins.Support
N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.For further exploring for "baton" in Webster Dictionary Online