billy club
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A short, heavy stick, typically made of wood or a similar rigid material, carried and used primarily by police officers as a defensive or controlling weapon.
Usage
The term "billy club" refers specifically to a type of police baton. It is used to describe the object itself. * The officer kept his billy club securely on his belt. * Historical displays often feature a billy club as part of a traditional police uniform.
Advanced Usage
- "to wield a billy club": To hold and use a billy club, often implying a readiness for action.
- The riot police were trained to wield a billy club effectively for crowd control.
Variants and Related Words
- Billy (n): A common, informal shortening of "billy club."
- The suspect was subdued with a billy.
- Nightstick (n): A synonym for billy club, very common in American English.
- Truncheon (n): A synonym more common in British English.
- Baton (n): A more general term for a short stick carried for authority or used by conductors, which can include a police billy club.
Synonyms
- Nightstick
- Truncheon
- Baton
- Bludgeon (though this implies a more generic, often crude, heavy club)
Related Idioms
- "To club someone": To hit someone with a club-like object. While not exclusive to a billy club, this verb is directly associated with its use.
- The evidence suggested the victim had been clubbed.
Noun
- a short stout club used primarily by policemen