baton
/ˈbætən/noun
1- a short stick or staff or something resembling one, in particular短棍, 尤指：
1.1
- a thin stick used by a conductor to direct an orchestra or choir指挥棒。
1.2
- Athletics a short stick or tube passed from runner to runner in a relay race【田径】接力棒。
1.3
- a long stick carried and twirled by a drum major（军乐队指挥用的）金属指挥杖。
1.4
- a police officer's truncheon警棍。
1.5
- a staff of office or authority, especially one carried by a field marshal（尤指陆军元帅的）节杖, 权杖, 官杖。
1.6
- Heraldry a narrow bend truncated at each end【纹章】短棒状条纹。
1.7
- a short bar replacing some figures on the dial of a clock or watch（钟表表面上代替数字的）短棒状线条。
1.8
batons
one of the suits in some tarot packs, corresponding to wands in others（占卜纸牌中的）权杖。
短语
pass (on) the baton
- hand over a particular duty or responsibility移交责任。
take up（或pick up）the baton
- accept a duty or responsibility接受责任。
under the baton of
- (of an orchestra or choir) conducted by（管弦乐队, 唱诗班）由…指挥。
词源
early 16th cent. (denoting a staff or cudgel)： from French bâton, earlier baston, from late Latin bastum 'stick'.