# Is there a name for this thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885 "2007-09-20T17:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/1 "2007-09-20T17:26:51Z")
Its baton shaped, approximately 1 foot long. I picture a Roman emperor carrying one. The most famous one was one given to Goering after being promoted. It was made of pearl and covered in diamonds. I believe that its currently on display at the West Point miliitary museum. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/2 "2007-09-20T17:38:15Z")
It could be a [fasces](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasces), the Roman sign of imperial power that was co-opted by Mussolini (and gave its name to fascism). ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/3 "2007-09-20T17:42:06Z")
[Field Marshal’s baton](http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-help/faq6.htm#baton)? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/4 "2007-09-20T18:19:21Z")
Do you mean a scepter? ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/5 "2007-09-20T18:53:52Z")
Excerpted from [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baton_(symbol))’s entry on **baton** : > [@](#): > > A short, heavy white baton was the symbol of the imperial mandate given (as his title reflects) to a Roman military legate; he held it high proclaiming ‘above your head and mine’ to invoke his right to represent the Emperor with an authority no one present could challenge. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/6 "2007-09-20T19:12:38Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s an ocarina. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/7 "2007-09-20T19:17:32Z")
Maybe a sweet potato? [QUOTE=Baffle] It could be a [fasces](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasces), the Roman sign of imperial power that was co-opted by Mussolini (and gave its name to fascism). [/QUOTE] I hope I’m not the only one that read: “It could be feces.” ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/8 "2007-09-21T18:25:06Z")
[QUOTE=bibliophage] [Field Marshal’s baton](http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-help/faq6.htm#baton)? [/QUOTE] Yes. Goering’s looked very similar to that. I thought it might have a cute german name or some special name. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/9 "2007-09-21T18:29:37Z")
[QUOTE=bibliophage] [Field Marshal’s baton](http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-help/faq6.htm#baton)? [/QUOTE] Yes. Goering’s looked very similar to that. I thought it might have a cute german name or some special name. [QUOTE=brewha] I hope I’m not the only one that read: “It could be feces.” [/QUOTE] When I first read about where the word facist came from I thought the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/10 "2007-09-21T18:32:23Z")
There is a Ukrainian version of this called a [Bulawa](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulawa) which was traditionally carried by a leader during ceremony. The tradition persists to this day - [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:VRU_Jan23_2005_president.jpg) is a picture of Victor Yushchenko holding one. (Jeez, I feel sorry for that guy.) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/11 "2007-09-21T20:59:04Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Do you mean a scepter? [/QUOTE] or [Mace](http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/LAAboutMace) ? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-thing/419885/12 "2007-09-21T21:09:18Z")
[QUOTE=furryman] Its baton shaped, approximately 1 foot long. I picture a Roman emperor carrying one. The most famous one was one given to Goering after being promoted. It was made of pearl and covered in diamonds. I believe that its currently on display at the West Point miliitary museum. [/QUOTE] A 1920s Style Death Ray?