quarterstaff

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

quarterstaff
    n 1: a long stout staff used as a weapon

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Quarterstaff \Quar"ter*staff`\, n.; pl. {Quarterstaves}.
   A long and stout staff formerly used as a weapon of defense
   and offense; -- so called because in holding it one hand was
   placed in the middle, and the other between the middle and
   the end.
   [1913 Webster] Quartet