picket

American  

[pik-it] / ˈpɪk ɪt /

noun

1. a post, stake, pale, or peg that is used in a fence or barrier, to fasten down a tent, etc.

2. a person stationed by a union or the like outside a factory, store, mine, etc., in order to dissuade or prevent workers or customers from entering it during a strike.

3. a person engaged in any similar demonstration, as against a government's policies or actions, before an embassy, office building, construction project, etc.

4. Military. a soldier or detachment of soldiers placed on a line forward of a position to warn against an enemy advance.

5. Navy, Air Force. an aircraft or ship performing similar sentinel duty.

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verb (used with object)

1. to enclose within a picket fence or stockade, as for protection, imprisonment, etc..

   to picket a lawn; to picket captives.

2. to fasten or tether to a picket.

3. to place pickets in front of or around (a factory, store, mine, embassy, etc.), as during a strike or demonstration.

4. Military.

   1. to guard, as with pickets.

   2. to post as a picket.

verb (used without object)

1. to stand or march as a picket.

picket British  

/ ˈpɪkɪt /

noun

1. a pointed stake, post, or peg that is driven into the ground to support a fence, provide a marker for surveying, etc

2. an individual or group that stands outside an establishment to make a protest, to dissuade or prevent employees or clients from entering, etc

3. Also: picquet.  a small detachment of troops or warships positioned towards the enemy to give early warning of attack

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verb

1. to post or serve as pickets at (a factory, embassy, etc)

   let's go and picket the shop

2. to guard (a main body or place) by using or acting as a picket

3. (tr) to fasten (a horse or other animal) to a picket

4. (tr) to fence (an area, boundary, etc) with pickets

Other Word Forms

• counterpicket noun
• picketer noun
• unpicketed adjective

Etymology

Origin of picket

First recorded in 1680–90; from French piquet, equivalent to pike ² + -et ( def. )

Example Sentences

In a time of social conformity, “Picnic” explored the emotional wreckage and simmering passions behind the picket fences.

From The Wall Street Journal

The city council said it had suspended collections across the city for the day due to the "mass pickets and protests" across its depots.

From BBC

‘Gen Z would rather invest in index funds and travel the world than tie themselves to a 30-year mortgage and a picket fence.’

From MarketWatch

The two barriers—the picket fence and the magical thicket—loom ominously over the land.

From Literature

Unite claimed a growing number of agency staff were refusing to cross the picket lines of striking bin workers due to "unsustainable workloads" and a bullying workplace culture at the council's refuse department.

From BBC

Related Words

• blockade
• boycott
• demonstrate
• protest
• walk out