picket

[ pik-it ]

/ ˈpɪk ɪt /

See synonyms for: picket / picketing / picketer on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

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.

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

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

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

verb (used with object)

to enclose within a picket fence or stockade, as for protection, imprisonment, etc.: to picket a lawn; to picket captives.

to fasten or tether to a picket.

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

Military.

to guard, as with pickets.
to post as a picket.

verb (used without object)

to stand or march as a picket.

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Origin of picket

From the French word piquet, dating back to 1680–90. See pike², -et

OTHER WORDS FROM picket

pick·et·er, nouncoun·ter·pick·et, noun, verbun·pick·et·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for picket

“The president should be picketed everywhere she goes,” Vinnichenko said.
Homophobia in Russia Is Taking a Kafkaesque Turn|Jay Michaelson|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
BGR was picketed by liberal groups furious over the state's gutting of collective bargaining for public employee unions.
The Race for 2012's Billions|Peter H. Stone|March 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Hungarian freedom fighters shouted insults as they picketed in front of Talent Associates headquarters at 444 Madison Avenue.
Nikita Khrushchev, Talk Show Guest|Stephen Battaglio|November 20, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Tiller, now in his late 60s, has been picketed, bombed, and shot.
The Last Abortionist|Joe Stumpe|March 25, 2009|DAILY BEAST

It shed so much light that Cindy thought she could count every hair on the picketed horses and mules.
We Were There at the Oklahoma Land Run|James Arthur Kjelgaard
Not a rock or log could be found for miles to which the saddle horse I rode could be picketed.
The Indians of the Painted Desert Region|George Wharton James
Their horses had been picketed far enough away so that if any of them should whinny they could not be heard at the ranch.
Mason of Bar X Ranch|Henry Bennett
Then I picketed the horses close together for warmth and we three ate our loaves.
The Secrets of a Kuttite|Edward O. Mousley
The horses, picketed but still saddled, were ready to start at the first order.
Michael Strogoff|Jules Verne

British Dictionary definitions for picket

picket

/ (ˈpɪkɪt) /

noun

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

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

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

verb

to post or serve as pickets at (a factory, embassy, etc)let's go and picket the shop

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

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

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

Derived forms of picket

picketer, noun

Word Origin for picket

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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picket

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Origin of picket

OTHER WORDS FROM picket

Example sentences from the Web for picket

British Dictionary definitions for picket

noun

verb

Derived forms of picket

Word Origin for picket

MEANINGS

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WORD OF THE DAY

picket

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

QUIZZES

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Origin of picket

OTHER WORDS FROM picket

Words related to picket

Example sentences from the Web for picket

British Dictionary definitions for picket

noun

verb

Derived forms of picket

Word Origin for picket