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baton

baton

16 5.0
A short heavy stick that police use as a weapon
  • noun
  • /bəˈtɑn/
translation icon : porra
  • There were mounted police chasing men down the streets, lashing out at them with their batons.
  • police baton

We hit him with batons and stuff just didn't have no effect on him.

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Examples

  • And there are numerous reports of police beating peaceful demonstrators with batons.

  • The second explained how policemen with batons and loudspeakers rounded up villagers in Uttawar to perform sterilization.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Then he charged at me with his baton and hit me to the ground.

    Blog text (5)
  • When he hit, they were there, and the sergeant had his baton at the ready.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Her only weapon was the telescoping baton she carried on her belt.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The SAP has been criticized for its use of the baton in breaking up illegal meetings.

  • The moment is broken as Bretyn's baton slams into Morrie's stomach, dropping him to his knees.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Police in riot gear—helmets, shields, and batons—stand shoulder to shoulder to form a human fence.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Two cops rush up to Trevor, and one swings his baton down just over Trevor's eye—CRACK!

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The officer brandished his baton to command the crowd to disperse.

Synonyms

nightstick
vsbaton
  • US
16 5.1

A short heavy stick used by police to hit or control crowds

is the general term not limited to crowd control situations
billy
vsbaton
  • US
6 8.7

A short heavy stick that police use to control crowds

is the general label for a police carried short thick stick
billy club
vsbaton
  • US
5 6.7

A short thick stick police carry to hit or defend themselves

is the more neutral, general word for that police defensive stick
truncheon
vsbaton
  • Archaic
5 9.0

A short thick stick police carry to hit someone or protect themselves

is the general term for a short police carried thick stick
cudgel
vsbaton
5 8.9

A short thick stick that people use as a weapon

is the police-specific word for that kind of short thick weapon
billystick
vsbaton
  • US
9.9

A short heavy stick that police use to hit or control people

is the broader name for that police carried heavy stick
lathee
vsbaton
  • Indian
9.9

A heavy bamboo stick used by police in India to hit or control people

is the general police stick term without regional or material detail

Idioms

1 3.5

To give responsibility or control to another person during a planned change

Compounds

A person who spins a thin stick and does tricks in parades or shows

1 8.2

A long stick that gives a short electric shock to stop someone temporarily

A bridge that crosses the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge, Louisiana

How Forceful

shootout
  • NSFW
79 5.6
water cannon
7 3.9
tear-gassing
  • Literature
1 6.3
pepper spray
31 3.5
baton
16 5.0
to crowd out
10 4.9
warning
1.0

Surface Forms

baton singular
batons plural

Etymology

Baton comes from the French baton meaning 'stick', and a police baton is a strong stick used by officers for control and protection. That's why the word is used for the tool that shows and keeps authority in public situations.