ˈpɪkɪt n. & v. --n. 1 a
person or
group of
people outside a
place of
work, intending to
persuade esp. workers
not to
enter during a
strike etc. 2 a
pointed stake or
peg driven into the ground to
form a
fence or
palisade, to
tether a
horse, etc. 3 (also
picquet, piquet)
Mil. a a
small body of troops
sent out to
watch for the
enemy,
held in readiness, etc. b a party of sentries. c an
outpost. d a camp-guard on
police duty in a
garrison town etc. --v. (picketed, picketing) 1 a tr. & intr.
station or
act as a picket. b tr.
beset or
guard (a
factory, workers, etc.)
with a picket or pickets. 2 tr.
secure (a place) with stakes. 3 tr. tether (an animal). øpicket line a
boundary established by workers on strike, esp. at the entrance to the place of work,
which others are asked not to
cross. øøpicketer n. [F piquet pointed stake f. piquer
prick, f.
pic PICK(2)]