wicket

noun wick·et \ ˈwi-kət \

|Updated on: 3 Aug 2018

Definition of wicket

1 : a small gate or door; especially : one forming part of or placed near a larger gate or door

2 : an opening like a window; especially : a grilled or grated window through which business is transacted

3 a : either of the two sets of three stumps topped by two crosspieces and set 66 feet apart at which the ball is bowled in cricket

b : an area 10 feet wide bounded by these wickets

c : one innings of a batsman; specifically : one that is not completed or never begun

win by three wickets

4 : an arch or hoop in croquet

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Recent Examples of wicket from the Web

And why an arch, which suggests the pioneers somehow passed through a giant croquet wicket?

— philip kennicott, kansascity, "St. Louis’ Gateway Arch emerges with new name, skeptical view of western expansion," 3 July 2018
At the time, the press were very critical of Giles for his lack of wickets, however the England squad and management core saw him as invaluable to their cause as the Australians struggled to score runs against him.

— SI.com, "Why England Supporters Are Wrong to Call for Raheem Sterling to Be Dropped for Croatia WC Semi Final," 11 July 2018
And why an arch, which suggests the pioneers somehow passed through a giant croquet wicket?

— philip kennicott, kansascity, "St. Louis’ Gateway Arch emerges with new name, skeptical view of western expansion," 3 July 2018
California's 48th Congressional District was perhaps the stickiest wicket.

— dan merica, CNN, "Crisis averted: How the Democrats avoided disaster in California," 6 June 2018
And why an arch, which suggests the pioneers somehow passed through a giant croquet wicket?

— philip kennicott, chicagotribune.com, "50 years later, the St. Louis Arch emerges with a new name and a skeptical view of western expansion," 26 June 2018
By the way, the Chennai Super Kings beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by two wickets.

— hiawatha bray, BostonGlobe.com, "You think Boston fans are sports mad? In India, more than 8m people watched a cricket match — on their phones," 25 May 2018
Australia and England also hail as hot spots for the sport stocked with equipment called wickets, stumps and bails.

— mary shanklin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Cricket anyone? Developer hunts Orlando stadium site," 21 July 2017
While the celebrations went on, the Sydney runners quickly dashed between the wickets for another run.

— victor mather, New York Times, "We Won! Wait, Maybe Not.," 4 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wicket.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of wicket

Middle English wiket, from Anglo-French, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse vīk inlet, corner

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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WICKET Defined for English Language Learners

wicket

noun

Definition of wicket for English Language Learners

: any one of the series of curved wires in the ground that the ball must be hit through in the game of croquet
cricket : either of the two sets of three wooden sticks at which the ball is bowled
: the rectangular area of ground that is between the two wickets