nightstick
Definition
Noun: A short, heavy club, typically made of wood or a synthetic material, carried and used primarily by police officers as a defensive or control weapon.
Usage
The word "nightstick" refers specifically to the tool carried by law enforcement. It describes a piece of standard police equipment. * The officer kept her nightstick securely on her belt. * In the past, police nightsticks were often made of hardwood.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The term "nightstick" originated in the 19th century, associated with watchmen or officers who carried a club for protection during night patrols.
- Formal/Technical Term: In many modern police departments, the official term is baton or expandable baton, while "nightstick" remains in common use.
Variants and Related Words
- Baton (n): A more general term for a short club or stick, often used by police, conductors, or in relay races. ("The riot officer held a long baton.")
- Truncheon (n): A chiefly British English term for a short club carried by a police officer.
- Billy club (n): Another synonym for a short, thick club, especially one used by police.
Synonyms
- Baton
- Truncheon
- Billy club
- Cudgel (a general term for a short, thick stick used as a weapon)
- Bludgeon (a heavy club, often implying its use as a weapon)
Related Idioms or Phrases
- To carry a big stick: This idiom, from Theodore Roosevelt's foreign policy, means to negotiate from a position of strength or power. It is conceptually related due to the "stick" as a symbol of authority, but it is not specific to a nightstick.
- In diplomacy, it is sometimes advisable to "speak softly and carry a big stick."
Noun
-
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
Khám phá thêm
Các từ liên quan
Từ đồng nghĩa
