Definition

Noun: A long, heavy stick carried by police officers, typically used as a weapon or for self-defense during night patrols. (Also spelled as "nightstick" or "baton".)

Usage Examples

• (The police officer used his baton for protection.)
• (Police carried heavy sticks as crowd-control tools.)
• (He was struck with a police baton.)

Advanced Usage

• "to swing a night stick": to use the stick in a threatening or forceful manner.

  • The guard swung his night stick to clear the path. (He moved the stick aggressively to make people move.)

• "night stick charge": a legal charge related to the use of a police baton during an arrest.

  • The officer faced a night stick charge for excessive force. (The officer was accused of using the baton improperly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nightstick (n): alternative spelling of "night stick".

  • He kept his nightstick in a holster on his belt. (He carried the baton in a holder.)

• Baton (n): a synonym for "night stick", often used in formal contexts.

  • The police baton is a standard-issue tool. (The stick is a regular piece of equipment.)

Synonyms

• Baton: a short, heavy stick used as a weapon by police.
• Truncheon: a British term for a police baton.
• Club: a general term for a thick stick used as a weapon.

Related Idioms

• "to carry a night stick": to be a police officer or security guard.

  • He has carried a night stick for twenty years. (He has worked as a police officer for two decades.)

• "under the night stick": under police control or threat of force.

  • The crowd was kept under the night stick during the riot. (The crowd was controlled by police using batons.)