n. [ F. bâton. See Baston. ] 1. A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes; as, the baton of a field marshal; the baton of a conductor in musical performances. [ 1913 Webster ]
He held the baton of command. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (Her.) An ordinary with its ends cut off, borne sinister as a mark of bastardy, and containing one fourth in breadth of the bend sinister; -- called also bastard bar. See Bend sinister. [ 1913 Webster ]