Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Truncheon \Trun"cheon\, v. t.
   To beat with a truncheon. --Shak.

Truncheon \Trun"cheon\, n. [OE. tronchoun the shaft of a broken
   spear, broken piece, OF. tronchon, tron?on, F. tron?on, fr.
   OF. & F. tronce, tronche, a piece of wood; cf. OF. trons,
   tros, trois; all perhaps from L. thyrsus a stalk, stem,
   staff. See {Thyrsus}, and cf. {Trounce}.]
   1. A short staff, a club; a cudgel; a shaft of a spear.

            With his truncheon he so rudely struck. --Spenser.

   2. A baton, or military staff of command.

            The marshal's truncheon nor the judges robe. --Shak.

   3. A stout stem, as of a tree, with the branches lopped off,
      to produce rapid growth. --Gardner.

Source : WordNet®

truncheon
     n : a short stout club used primarily by policemen [syn: {nightstick},
          {billy}, {billystick}, {billy club}]