Hard in a classical tongue to forget name for baton (5)

I believe the answer is:

lathi

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'for baton' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for lathi that I've seen before include "club used by an Indian policeman" , "Indian police baton" , "Indian policeman's stick" , "Indian truncheon" , "instrument of punishment" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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