cleft stick

A stick with a split at one end, once used by runners to carry written messages

Japanese Meaning

先端が割れた棒。かつて走者が文書を運ぶために用いられていた。

When the courier reached the capital, he presented the cleft stick that held the emperor's decree.

使者が都に到着すると、彼は皇帝の布告を入れた先端が割れた棒を差し出した。

Sense（1）

A stick with a split at one end, once used by runners to carry written messages

cleft sticks

（ plural ）