Terminalcoffee discussion

Espantoon.

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I'm not sure what the difference is between this and a nightstick and a billy club.

Use it in a sentence!

What is the origin of the word.

Is it an old weapon, or a fairly new one?

RandomAnthony wrote: "Use it in a sentence!"

From this morning's paper:
"A least 100 teenagers roamed the streets near the Inner Harbor, City Hall, the Convention Center and the First Mariner Arena for more than two hours as police used megaphones to order them to leave.

About a dozen police cars and wagons, lights flashing, were parked along Calvert and Pratt streets. Police officers twirled espantoons and opened the wagon doors as they shooed the teens along.

The young people walked in large, boisterous groups and did not appear to be heading toward a destination. Asked why they had gathered downtown, one young person said, "It's the day after Easter.""

police officers do twirling now?

janine wrote: "police officers do twirling now?"

And they never drop it once.

So I went to find a nice "Cop Rock" pic in response to the twirling comment and got sidetracked by this.

I really don't know what to say...

What an odd story. Let me guess: the teenagers were black. Is it illegal not to be headed toward any destination? Odd word, too. What is the word for that little eagle it's resting on, that resembles a chopsticks rest?

what i say to a bartender: "espantoon. three ice cubes and a cherry on a sword. pronto"

I miss those little swords. Daniel Tosh did a very cute sketch where he was sword fighting someone with a cocktail sword.

I guess that's better than asking for a spitoon...

You'd have some esplainin' to do.