truncheon Hear it!

truncheon Definition

trun·cheon (trunc̸hən)

noun

  1. Obsolete a short, thick club; cudgel
  2. any staff or baton used as a symbol of authority
  3. Chiefly Brit. a policeman's stick or billy
  4. Obsolete the shaft of a spear
  5. Obsolete a trunk or stem, esp. one with the branches lopped off

Etymology: ME tronchoun < OFr tronchon < VL *truncio < L truncus, a stem, trunk

transitive verb

Archaic to beat with a truncheon

truncheon Synonyms

truncheon

n.

cudgel, bludgeon, war club, nightstick; see club 3, stick, weapon 1.

truncheon Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • carry: Police were in riot gear and carrying truncheons as protective clothing.
  • draw: They were repelled by police from several forces in riot gear and with truncheons drawn.
  • have: She never had a rubber truncheon and had never even seen one till she went to prison after capture.
  • illustrate: There are two Great Western Railroad Police and two Manchester and Leeds Railroad Police illustrated truncheons.
  • include: Edinburgh Airport: weapons seized include automatic telescopic truncheons from Thailand and a selection of knuckledusters from Malaysia.
  • shake: Rob Lyons Dark Blue by Ron Shelton Dark Blue has more cop clichés than you can shake a truncheon at.

Adjective modifier

  • own: He disturbed thieves breaking into a goods wagon and was beaten to death, probably by his own truncheon.
  • telescopic: They then searched him and found him to be in possession of a loaded.38 revolver and a telescopic truncheon.
  • short: Each man carried a rattle to attract attention and a short truncheon for self-protection.
  • long: Police command has informed me that officers were carrying their " Arnold batons " , long truncheons used in public order situations.

Modifies a noun

  • wound: All of these injuries were truncheon wounds to the back of the head and some people were quite distressed.
  • blow: Blair Peach, a white teacher, killed by a police truncheon blow to the head.

Noun used with modifier

  • rubber: She never had a stick or a rubber truncheon.
  • police: Blair Peach, a white teacher, killed by a police truncheon blow to the head.