cricket

¹

[ krik-it ]

noun

1. any of several jumping, orthopterous insects of the family Gryllidae, characterized by long antennae and stridulating organs on the forewings of the male, as one of the species commonly found in pastures and meadows field cricket or on trees and shrubs tree cricket.
2. a small metal toy with a flat metal spring that snaps back and forth with a clicking, cricketlike noise when pressed.

cricket

²

[ krik-it ]

noun

1. a game, popular especially in England, for two teams of 11 members each that is played on a field having two wickets 22 yards (20 meters) apart, the object being to score runs by batting the ball far enough so that one is enabled to exchange wickets with the batsman defending the opposite wicket before the ball is recovered.
2. fair play; honorable conduct:

   It wouldn't be cricket to look at his cards.

verb (used without object)

1. to play cricket.

cricket

³

[ krik-it ]

noun

1. a small, low stool.

cricket

⁴

[ krik-it ]

noun

1. (on a sloping roof) a small roof for diverting rainwater around an obstruction, as a chimney.

cricket

¹

/ ˈkrɪkɪt /

noun

1. a small low stool

cricket

²

/ ˈkrɪkɪt /

noun

1. 1. a game played by two teams of eleven players on a field with a wicket at either end of a 22-yard pitch, the object being for one side to score runs by hitting a hard leather-covered ball with a bat while the other side tries to dismiss them by bowling, catching, running them out, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a cricket bat

2. not cricket informal.
   not cricket not fair play

verb

1. to play cricket

cricket

³

/ ˈkrɪkɪt /

noun

1. any insect of the orthopterous family Gryllidae, having long antennae and, in the males, the ability to produce a chirping sound (stridulation) by rubbing together the leathery forewings
2. any of various related insects, such as the mole cricket

Derived Forms

• ˈcricketer, noun

Other Words From

• cricket·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cricket¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English criket, creket, from Old French criquet, equivalent to criqu(er) “to creak” (imitative) + -et noun suffix; -et

Origin of cricket²

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French criquet “goalpost”; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Middle Dutch krick(e) “arm, crosspiece, stick, staff, gallows”

Origin of cricket³

First recorded in 1635–45; of obscure origin; compare cracket, with same sense

Origin of cricket⁴

Of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of cricket¹

C17: of unknown origin

Origin of cricket²

C16: from Old French criquet goalpost, wicket, of uncertain origin

Origin of cricket³

C14: from Old French criquet, from criquer to creak, of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

see not cricket .

Example Sentences

Instead, he spread the Overview Effect message, even though the response for years was crickets.

From Ozy

Salim Abdool Karim was at a cricket match on December 26, Boxing Day, when he made the mistake of looking at his email.

From MIT Technology Review

He creates melodies to the rhythms of crickets, katydids, and a whole orchestra of bugs.

From Outside Online

Some male crickets make their own megaphones by cutting wing-sized holes into the center of leaves.

From Science News

One pound of crickets provides three times the protein, as well as more iron and nutrients, than a pound of beef.

From Nautilus

Cricket is a sport enjoyed by hundreds of millions around the globe, mainly in former British colonies.

From The Daily Beast

His life, as he himself admits, is all cricket from an early age.

From The Daily Beast

He experienced a rapid rise, only beginning to play cricket competitively at age 11.

From The Daily Beast

Three kids play cricket among the crude gravestones in a cemetery that is the largest in the province.

From The Daily Beast

But the language about public schools and cricket bewildered audiences and Frank Rich gave it a stinking review.

From The Daily Beast

A cricket-match was in progress, but the bowling and batting were extremely wild, thanks to The Warren strong beer.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a manly young fellow, a sportsman and renowned at cricket, and she was amiable and pretty, a little blonde beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

So still was the place that the caged cricket hanging from the eaves of Um's distant room beat time like an elfin metronome.

From Project Gutenberg

In one such startled interval of waking her caged cricket had given out its plaintive cry.

From Project Gutenberg

Somewhere near her feet the cricket gave out an importunate chirp.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• decent
• fair
• honest
• proper
• reasonable
• stable
• unbiased