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).
a small metal toy with a flat metal spring that snaps back and forth with a clicking, cricketlike noise when pressed.
Origin of cricket
1
1275–1325;Middle Englishcriket insect < Old Frenchcriquet, equivalent to criqu(er) to creak (imitative) + -et-et
Related formscrick·et·like, adjective
cricket
2
[krik-it]
noun
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.
fair play; honorable conduct: It wouldn't be cricket to look at his cards.
verb (used without object)
to play cricket.
Origin of cricket
2
1590–1600; < Middle Frenchcriquet goal post, perhaps < early Dutchkrick(e) arm, crosspiece, gallows
Related formscrick·et·er, noun
cricket
3
[krik-it]
noun
a small, low stool.
Origin of cricket
3
First recorded in 1635–45; of obscure origin; compare cracket, with same sense
cricket
4
[krik-it]
noun
(on a sloping roof) a small roof for diverting rain water around an obstruction, as a chimney.
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
any of various related insects, such as the mole cricket
Word Origin for cricket
C14: from Old French criquet, from criquer to creak, of imitative origin
cricket
2
noun
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
(as modifier)a cricket bat
not cricketinformalnot fair play
verb(intr)
to play cricket
Derived Formscricketer, noun
Word Origin for cricket
C16: from Old French criquet goalpost, wicket, of uncertain origin
the insect, early 14c., from Old French criquet (12c.) "a cricket," from criquer "to creak, rattle, crackle," of echoic origin.
n.2
the game, 1590s, apparently from Old French criquet "goal post, stick," perhaps from Middle Dutch/Middle Flemish cricke "stick, staff," perhaps from the same root as crutch. Sense of "fair play" is first recorded 1851, on notion of "cricket as it should be played."
