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. Alsopicquet 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

Derived Forms

• ˈpicketer, noun

Other Words From

• pick·et·er noun
• coun·ter·pick·et noun verb
• un·pick·et·ed 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

If the 5.5% increase is not implemented, Ms Speed said there would be a "very difficult environment" with health care workers "on the picket lines post Christmas".

From BBC

Otium distributed the checks days after workers picketed in front of the empty restaurant, demanding to be paid after weeks of going without their final checks.

From Los Angeles Times

“I know what it is to be on a picket line and to fight for your rights as an employee.”

From Salon

Union dockworkers from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation, halting the movement of billions of dollars worth of goods, ABC News reported.

From Salon

Longshoremen started picketing after their six-year labor contract with the United States Maritime Alliance expired at midnight.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sentry