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Baton vs Truncheon - What's the difference?

baton | truncheon |

As nouns the difference between baton and truncheon

is that baton is a staff or truncheon, used for various purposes; as, the baton of a field marshal while truncheon is a fragment or piece broken off from something, especially a broken-off piece of a spear or lance.

As verbs the difference between baton and truncheon

is that baton is to strike with a baton while truncheon is to strike with a truncheon.

baton

English

(wikipedia baton)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes; as, the baton of a field marshal
  • (music) The stick of a conductor in musical performances.
  • (sports) An object transferred by runners in a relay race.
  • (lb) A short stout club used primarily by policemen; a truncheon (UK).
  • (heraldiccharge) An abatement in coats of arms to denote illegitimacy. (Also spelled batune, baston).
  • (heraldiccharge) A riband with the ends cut off, resembling a baton, as shown on a coat of arms.
  • Derived terms

    * batonic

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To strike with a baton.
  • References

    * * The Observer's Book of Heraldry , by Charles Mackinnon of Dunakin, p. 58.

    truncheon

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (label) A fragment or piece broken off from something, especially a broken-off piece of a spear or lance.
  • *, Bk.VII:
  • *:Helpe me that thys truncheoune were oute of my syde, for hit stykith so sore that hit nyghe sleyth me.
  • *1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , IV.3:
  • *:Therewith asunder in the midst it brast, / And in his hand nought but the troncheon left.
  • (label) The shaft of a spear.
  • A short staff, a club; a cudgel.
  • *(Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
  • *:With his truncheon he so rudely struck.
  • *1786 , Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons , p.52:
  • *:One is a large ball of iron, fastened with three chains to a strong truncheon or staff of about two feet long; the other is of mixed metal, in the form of a channelled melon, fastened also to a staff by a triple chain; these balls weigh eight pounds.
  • A baton, or military staff of command, now especially the stick carried by a police officer.
  • *1604 , William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure , Act II, Scene II, l.60:
  • *:Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword / The marshal's truncheon , nor the judge's robe / Become them with one half so good a grace / As mercy does.
  • (label) A stout stem, as of a tree, with the branches lopped off, to produce rapid growth.
  • :(Gardner)
  • (label) A penis.
  • See also

    * bludgeon

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To strike with a truncheon.
  • (Shakespeare)