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noun Picket n. 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.(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. 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.
Piquet n. (Written also picket and picquet) A game at cards played between two persons, with thirty-two cards, all the deuces, threes, fours, fives, and sixes, being set aside.
verb Picket v. t. (past & past part. picketed; pres. part. 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.)
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
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