wicket
/ˈwɪkɪt
/noun
1 Cricket Each of the sets of three stumps with two bails across the top at either end of the pitch, defended by a batsman.But if the bowler can knock the bails off the wickets, the batsman is out....
- Yes, it's the fast bowler strutting his stuff: running up to the wicket; wrecking a batsman's stumps.
- It was there that Robert and his pupils played cricket on a pitch marked out by wickets of willow sticks.
1.1The prepared strip of ground between two sets of stumps: when they inspected the wicket, they found it being rolled by some prisoners...
- You can spend some time at the crease, get used to the bowler's action, the ground, the wicket.
- So we sat around while a new wicket was prepared and cut, which was the only way of playing.
- It thus becomes important for us to prepare fast and bouncy wickets at home, so that our batsmen get used to these surfaces.
1.2The dismissal of a batsman; each of ten dismissals regarded as marking a division of a side’s innings: Darlington won by four wickets...
- Man-of-the-match Hill snatched four quick wickets as the home side found themselves in disarray on 47-6.
- Dringhouses maintained their good start in division two as they beat a fancied Sewerby side by four wickets.
- He took 2-37 and then rapped out 61 off only 36 balls with 12 fours as his side won by seven wickets.
2 (also wicket door or wicket gate) A small door or gate, especially one beside or in a larger one.The style of the gate should match the house: a wicket gate would look out of place in a smart city setting, whereas antique wrought iron might lead to expectations that a cottage garden fails to meet....
- Outside in the yard was a storm water drain which was used as an urinal and a water barrel for collecting the water from the roof and the slated stone buildings, a wicket gate leading to a dry toilet at the and of the garden.
- Hastily, the girl slid backwards on hands and knees behind the nearest tree, and watched as they opened the wicket gate and walked down the track deeper into the forest.
2.1North American An opening in a door or wall, often fitted with glass or a grille and used for selling tickets or a similar purpose.As to privacy, Mr Husain complained of the wicket in the door....
- The barred wicket opened and shut, and the door creaked ajar.
3North American A croquet hoop.Each player takes a croquet mallet and must only use the striking end, not the side, when moving their ball through the croquet wickets....
- The wickets are metal or wire pieces that look like miniature arches and are located throughout the croquet course.
Phrases
at the wicket
keep wicket
lose a wicket
a sticky wicket
over the wicket
round the wicket
take a wicket
Origin
Middle English (in the sense 'small door or grille'): from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French wiket; origin uncertain, usually referred to the Germanic root of Old Norse vīkja 'to turn, move'. Cricket senses date from the late 17th century.