a shot in billiards made by hitting the cue ball with the cue held nearly vertically; the cue ball spins around another ball before hitting the object ball

a difficult stroke made by striking downwards on the upper surface of the cue-ball, the cue being held nearly at right angles to the table, and the point not being directed towards the centre of the ball

Applying severe English to the cue ball from above.

The word used in King René's Livre Tournoi to describe the clubs used in tournament. I suspect that bâton is a better translation, looking at what the weapon actually looks like. See Chronique: The Journal of Chivalry #10.

club-like weapon most often used in tournaments