baton
ba.ton \b*-'ta:n, ba-, -'to-n\ n [F ba^ton, fr. OF baston, fr. L bastum stick] 1: CUDGEL, TRUNCHEON 2: a staff borne as a symbol of office 3: a narrow heraldic bend 4: a stick or wand with which a leader directs a band or orchestra 5: a hollow cylinder carried by each member of a relay team and passed to t he succeeding runner 6: a smooth staff with a ball at one end carried by a drum major or baton t wirler