a short stout club used primarily by policemen
"The officer raised his baton to disperse the crowd before they could breach the barricade."
a short staff carried by some officials to symbolize an office or an authority
"The referee waved his baton to signal the start of the race."
a hollow metal rod that is wielded or twirled by a drum major or drum majorette
"The drum major skillfully twirled the silver baton as the band marched past in perfect synchronization."
a hollow cylinder passed from runner to runner in a relay race
"The track coach signaled for the team to sprint after he tossed the baton to the first runner."
A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes
"The security guard held a baton in his hand to maintain order at the crowded event."
In plain English: A baton is a thin stick used by race officials to start runners and by marching bands to keep their music together.
"The runner held the baton tightly in his hand before passing it to the next teammate."
Usage: A baton refers to a short stick carried by conductors to guide an orchestra or by officials like police officers and race starters. While it is often made of wood or metal, the term specifically denotes its function as a tool for directing movement rather than just being any type of staff.
To strike with a baton.
"The police officer raised his arm to strike with a baton as the suspect fled into the alley."
The word baton comes from the Old French term bâton, which originally meant a stick or staff. It entered English as a doublet of the related word baston, reflecting different spellings that evolved from the same source language.