tronchon

piece cut off, thick stick, stump

1 / 1

noun

truncheon

TRUN-chun/ˈtrʌntʃən/

A short, heavy club used as a weapon, especially by police.

Etymology

Old French tronchon meant a cut-off piece or thick stick. That concrete sense carries into the weapon: a short, stout piece of wood used as a club.