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

• cricketer noun
• cricketlike 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

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

"It is a nice end to a tough year of Test cricket for us," said Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine, referring to seven losses in their eight previous Tests.

Read more on Barron's

Sri Lanka postponed its premier league tournament to allow more time to improve venues for the T20 World Cup in February and March, the cricket board said on Wednesday.

Read more on Barron's

From the Ashes is a series of features and podcasts which dig deeper into stories from cricket's fiercest and most legendary Test series.

Read more on BBC

"I first met Dickie Bird when I was 15, at the time I was playing cricket for Hemsworth Grammar School," Sir Geoffrey said to a packed church.

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On Friday, the Taliban said Pakistan had carried out an air strike which killed eight, including three local cricket players.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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