baton Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a thin tapered rod used by a conductor to lead an orchestra or choir
    wand.
  2. noun a short stout club used primarily by policemen
    nightstick; billy club; billystick; billy; truncheon.
  3. noun a short staff carried by some officials to symbolize an office or an authority
  4. noun a hollow metal rod that is wielded or twirled by a drum major or drum majorette
  5. noun a hollow cylinder passed from runner to runner in a relay race

WordNet

Bat"on noun
Etymology
F. bton. See Baston.
Definitions
  1. A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes; as, the baton of a field marshal; the baton of a conductor in musical performances.
    He held the baton of command. Prescott.
  2. (Her.) 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.

Webster 1913