truncheon

1 of 2

noun

trun·​cheon ˈtrən-chən How to pronounce truncheon (audio)
Synonyms of truncheonnext
1
a
: a police officer's billy club
b
: baton sense 2
c
obsolete : club, bludgeon
2
: a shattered spear or lance

truncheon

2 of 2

verb

truncheoned; truncheoning; truncheons

transitive verb

archaic
: to beat with a truncheon

Synonyms of truncheon

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Noun

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Examples of truncheon in a Sentence

Noun police officers kept their hands on their truncheons
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There were police with truncheons and tear gas outside the ground. — Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 Hundreds of people crowded the runway to greet Ali, pushing against a cordon of soldiers armed with truncheons. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025 Peaceful protest marches were met with truncheons and bullets, and within two days, hundreds of people lay dead — at the hands of their own military. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Oct. 2025 Even the basic concept of free speech has become another truncheon in the nation’s ongoing battle between tribes. — Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for truncheon

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tronchoun, from Anglo-French trunchun, from Vulgar Latin *truncion-, *truncio, from Latin truncus trunk

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of truncheon was in the 14th century

Rhymes for truncheon

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Browse Nearby Words

truncature
truncheon
trundle
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Cite this Entry

“Truncheon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truncheon. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

truncheon

noun
trun·​cheon
ˈtrən-chən
: a police officer's club
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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