picket

[pik-it]

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.

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

/ 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

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

• picketer noun
• counterpicket noun
• unpicketed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of picket¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of picket¹

C18: from French piquet, from Old French piquer to prick; see _pike ²

Example Sentences

"We will have a strong mandate for strike action and if peoples jobs are at risk, people will turn out on the picket lines as well."

From BBC

In Edinburgh, UCU members have appeared on picket lines at several of the university's sites around the city since Monday.

From BBC

Hanging from picket fences that separate lawns, Stars and Stripes mingled with flags for the pro-police campaign Blue Lives Matter.

From BBC

He made that comment on a recent visit to Glasgow, where he joined striking workers on a picket line.

From BBC

Flight attendants will picket at major Canadian airports, where passengers were already trying to secure new bookings earlier in the week.

From BBC

Related Words

• blockade 
• boycott 
• demonstrate 
• protest 
• walk out