wick·et 
(wĭkĭt)
(wĭkĭt)n.
1. A small door or gate, especially one built into or near a larger one.
2. A small window or opening, often fitted with glass or a grating.
3. A sluice gate for regulating the amount of water in a millrace or canal or for emptying a lock.
4. Sports In cricket:
a. Either of the two sets of three stumps, topped by bails, that forms the target of the bowler and is defended by the batsman.
b. A batsman's innings, which may be terminated by the ball knocking the bails off the stumps.
c. The termination of a batsman's innings.
d. The period during which two batsmen are in together.
e. See pitch2.
5. Games Any of the small arches, usually made of wire, through which players try to drive their ball in croquet.
[Middle English, from Old North French wiket, nook, wicket; see weik-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
wicketball approaching a cricket wicket, which is made up of three vertical stumps and two bails that are positioned horizontally