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| ba·ton [ bə tón, bátt'n ] (plural ba·tons) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. music stick for conducting music: a short thin stick used by a conductor to direct musical performers
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2. police heavy stick used by police: a short thick stick used as a weapon, especially by police
  a side-handled baton
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3. sports stick passed by relay team: a short stick or hollow cylinder passed by each runner in a relay team to the next runner
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4. drum major's stick: a long stick with a knob at one or each end, carried and twirled by a drum major or majorette
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5. symbol of office: a staff carried by an official such as a field marshal as a symbol of rank or office
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6. heraldry diagonal line on coat of arms: a shortened narrow diagonal line on a coat of arms, especially one signifying bastardy
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| [Early 16th century. Via French< late Latin bastum "stick"] |
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take up the baton to take responsibility for something from somebody
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