Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Picket?

\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.]