wicket

noun wick·et \ ˈwi-kət \

Updated on: 3 Mar 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

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
The wobbly wooden wickets had been set up, as always.

— annie gowen, Washington Post, "To control crowds in Kashmir, police fired pellets. Now this 16-year-old will never see fully again.," 11 Dec. 2017
To whack a wooden ball through wickets with their mallets and lead their respective teams to titles in the Palm Beach County Summer Golf Croquet League, which was celebrating its ninth year of local play.

— mike may, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Golf croquet enthusiasts enjoy another summer of mallet play," 9 Sep. 2017
FC Cincinnati allowed just 27 goals in 2016, and recorded 10 shutouts with reigning USL Goalkeeper of the Year Mitch Hildebrandt between the wickets.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "FC Cincinnati aims for 3-game season sweep of St. Louis FC," 22 Sep. 2017
In the final, The Big Cats defeated the Wicket Stickers with a timely jump-shot at the tie-breaking wicket.

— mike may, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Golf croquet enthusiasts enjoy another summer of mallet play," 9 Sep. 2017
Aravind Adiga’s Selection Day (Scribner) lands in the sticky wicket of modern India.

— sloane crosley, Vanity Fair, "The President’s Collected Speeches, an Ode to Michelle, and More Books to Cap the Obama Era," 16 Jan. 2017
Shoot hoops Three teams can aim for the wicket with mallets handmade by Amish artisans.

— martha stewart, star-telegram, "Take it outside for a stylish summer party," 22 June 2017
The definition of health insurance proved to be a sticky wicket.

— carl cannon, Orange County Register, "Why Obamacare is still the law of the land," 2 Apr. 2017

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