hats and bats
n.pl.— «Over the last decade, there has been running disagreement within the LAPD about when and where to deploy so-called tactical gear (in police parlance, “hats and bats”) and whether the equipment officers wear can itself change the dynamics of a crowd.» —“LAPD officer’s head injury raises debate over helmet use” by Andrew Blankstein Los Angeles Times Jan. 20, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Asthenosphere, a geologist’s term for the molten layer beneath the earth’s crust, sparks a journey that stretches all the way from ancient Greece to the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Plus: What the heck is a dogberg? It’s when...
The adjectives canine and feline refer to dogs and cats. But how does English address other groups of animals? Plus, cabin fever has been around much longer than the current pandemic. That restless, antsy, stir-crazy feeling goes back to the days...