truncheon

[ truhn-chuhn ]

noun

1. the club carried by a police officer; billy.
2. a staff representing an office or authority; baton.
3. the shattered shaft of a spear.
4. Obsolete. cudgel; bludgeon.

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic. to beat with a club.

truncheon

/ ˈtrʌntʃən /

noun

1. a short thick club or cudgel carried by a policeman
2. a baton of office

   a marshal's truncheon

3. archaic.
   a short club or cudgel
4. the shaft of a spear

verb

1. tr to beat with a truncheon

Word History and Origins

Origin of truncheon¹

1300–50; Middle English tronchon fragment < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *trunciōn-, stem of *trunciō literally, a lopping. See trunk, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of truncheon¹

C16: from Old French tronchon stump, from Latin truncus trunk; see truncate

Example Sentences

The court heard Morgan armed himself with a small truncheon and joined a "mob" who attacked police and damaged buildings on August 3.

From BBC

The 16-minute film released on Friday included re-enactments involving guards in balaclavas and truncheons and looked like a crude attempt to pressure the German authorities into action.

From BBC

Last month, an opposition press conference under the banner of "Don't Touch My Constitution" was broken up by police officers armed with truncheons.

From BBC

Mr Luhaka said one officer proceeded to pull his trousers down and assault him with a truncheon.

From BBC

He said policemen whose job was to control the crowds in front of the emergency department only carried truncheons.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• baton