noun
truncheon
TRUHNT-shuhn
Truncheon (noun) means a short heavy stick used as a weapon, especially the baton carried by police. Example: “The officer carried a truncheon on his belt during patrol.”
noun
1
A short heavy stick used as a weapon, especially the baton carried by police.
"The officer carried a truncheon on his belt during patrol."
"Riot police were equipped with shields and truncheons."
2
A broken-off piece of something, such as the shaft of a spear or lance.
"The knight fought on with only the truncheon of his lance."
How to use truncheon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short club-like stick, most familiar today as a police baton.
UK vs US
This is mainly British English; American English usually says "nightstick" or "billy club" instead.
Common pairings
wield a truncheon
police truncheon
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Word forms
- Plural
- truncheons
- Third person singular
- truncheons
- Past tense
- truncheoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The officer carried a _____ on his belt during patrol.
Etymology
From Old French tronchon, "a thick stick," ultimately from Latin truncus, meaning a tree trunk or something cut short.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for truncheon
See all rhymes for truncheon →Frequently asked questions
What does “truncheon” mean?
The word “truncheon” means a short heavy stick used as a weapon, especially the baton carried by police. In plain terms, a short club-like stick, most familiar today as a police baton.
How do you pronounce “truncheon”?
“Truncheon” is pronounced TRUHNT-shuhn (/ˈtɹʌnt͡ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “truncheon” in a sentence?
Here is “truncheon” used in a sentence: “The officer carried a truncheon on his belt during patrol.”
What part of speech is “truncheon”?
“Truncheon” is a noun.
Where does the word “truncheon” come from?
The word “truncheon” comes from Latin. From Old French tronchon, "a thick stick," ultimately from Latin truncus, meaning a tree trunk or something cut short.
How many meanings does “truncheon” have?
“Truncheon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short heavy stick used as a weapon, especially the baton carried by police.
