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. 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. informal,  not fair play

verb

1. to play cricket

cricket

²

/ 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

cricket

³

/ ˈkrɪkɪt /

noun

1. a small low stool

Other Word Forms

• cricketlike adjective
• cricketer noun

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

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

Origin of cricket²

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

Origin of cricket³

C17: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

see not cricket.

Example Sentences

Look at American football, soccer, cricket, or other rugby teams and see how they keep winning and go on to secure the big prizes.

Read more on BBC

Across 18 months they played some exhilarating cricket, shredding bowling attacks.

Read more on BBC

"What harm is it playing two days of cricket with the pink ball under lights?"

Read more on BBC

When you look at the number of overs taken to complete the game, it was Test cricket on fast forward.

Read more on BBC

Each side has 11 players, like regular cricket, but at least four must be totally blind.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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