BATON, Fr. a staff. See [Staff].
Baton a deux bouts, Fr. a quarter-staff.
Baton de commandement, Fr. an instrument of particular distinction which was formerly given to generals in the French army. Henry III. before his accession to the throne was made generalissimo of all the armies belonging to his brother Charles the IX. and publicly received the Baton, as a mark of high command.
Baton ferrat et non ferrat, Fr. all sorts of weapons.
Obténir son object par le tour du Baton, Fr. to accomplish one’s ends by equivocal means.
Etre bien assuré de son Baton, Fr. to be morally certain of a thing.
Etre reduit au Baton blanc, to be reduced to your last stake.
A Batons rompus, Fr. to do any thing by fits and starts, to be undecided in your plans of attack, &c.
BATOON, a truncheon, or marshal’s staff.
BATTAILOUS, a warlike or military appearance.