Definitions for: Picket


[n] a wooden strip forming part of a fence
[n] a vehicle performing sentinel duty
[n] a detachment of troops guarding an army from surprise attack
[n] a person employed to watch for something to happen
[n] a protester posted by a labor organization outside a place of work
[v] fasten with a picket; "picket the goat"
[v] serve as pickets or post pickets; "picket a business to protest the lay-offs"



Webster (1913) Definition: Pick"et, n. [F. piquet, properly dim. of pique spear,
pike. See Pike, and cf. Piquet.]
1. A stake sharpened or pointed, especially one used in
fortification and encampments, to mark bounds and angles;
or one used for tethering horses.

2. A pointed pale, used in marking fences.

3. [Probably so called from the picketing of the horses.]
(Mil.) A detached body of troops serving to guard an army
from surprise, and to oppose reconnoitering parties of the
enemy; -- called also outlying picket.

4. By extension, men appointed by a trades union, or other
labor organization, to intercept outsiders, and prevent
them from working for employers with whom the organization
is at variance. [Cant]



5. A military punishment, formerly resorted to, in which the
offender was forced to stand with one foot on a pointed
stake.

6. A game at cards. See Piquet.

Inlying picket (Mil.), a detachment of troops held in camp
or quarters, detailed to march if called upon.

Picket fence, a fence made of pickets. See def. 2, above.


Picket guard (Mil.), a guard of horse and foot, always in
readiness in case of alarm.

Picket line. (Mil.)
(a) A position held and guarded by small bodies of men
placed at intervals.
(b) A rope to which horses are secured when groomed.

Picketpin, an iron pin for picketing horses.


Pick"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Picketed; p. pr. & vb.
n. Picketing.]
1. To fortify with pointed stakes.

2. To inclose or fence with pickets or pales.

3. To tether to, or as to, a picket; as, to picket a horse.

4. To guard, as a camp or road, by an outlying picket.

5. To torture by compelling to stand with one foot on a
pointed stake. [Obs.]

Synonyms: lookout, lookout man, pale, scout, sentinel, sentry, spotter, watch

See Also: demonstrate, demonstrator, detachment, fasten, fix, march, military vehicle, paling, picket boat, picket fence, picket ship, protester, secure, security guard, strip, watcher, watchman

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animals beginning with t
animlas that start with t