wicket

UK: /ˈwɪkɪt/ US: /ˈwɪkɪt/ ,(wik′it)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

wick•et /ˈwɪkɪt/   n. [countable]

1. a window or opening, often with a grating, as in a ticket office.
2. Sport a small door or gate, esp. one beside or forming part of a larger one.
3. (in croquet) a hoop or arch.
4. Sport (in cricket) either of the two frameworks at which the bowler aims the ball.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

wick•et  (wik′it), n. 

1. a window or opening, often closed by a grating or the like, as in a door, or forming a place of communication in a ticket office, a teller's cage in a bank, etc.
2. Games [Croquet.] a hoop or arch.
3. a turnstile in an entrance.
4. a small door or gate, esp. one beside, or forming part of, a larger one.
5. Civil Engineering a small gate by which a canal lock is emptied.
6. Mechanical Engineering a gate by which a flow of water is regulated, as to a waterwheel.
7. [Cricket.]
   • either of the two frameworks, each consisting of three stumps with two bails in grooves across the tops, at which the bowler aims the ball.
   • the area between the wickets;
     the playing field.
   • one batsman's turn at the wicket.
   • the period during which two players bat together.
   • a batsman's inning that is not completed or not begun.
8. British Terms to be on, have, or bat a sticky wicket, to be at or have a disadvantage.

• Gmc; compare Middle Dutch wiket wicket, equivalent. to wik- (akin to Old English wīcan to yield; see weak) + -et noun, nominal suffix
• Anglo-French; Old French guischet
• Middle English wiket 1200–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

wicket / ˈwɪkɪt/ noun

1. a small door or gate, esp one that is near to or part of a larger one
2. a small window or opening in a door, esp one fitted with a grating or glass pane, used as a means of communication in a ticket office, bank, etc
3. a small sluicegate, esp one in a canal lock gate or by a water wheel
4. either of two constructions, placed 22 yards apart, consisting of three pointed stumps stuck parallel in the ground with two wooden bails resting on top, at which the batter stands
5. the strip of ground between these
6. a batter's turn at batting or the period during which two batters bat
7. the act or instance of a batter being got out: the bowler took six wickets
8. keep wicket ⇒ to act as a wicketkeeper

Etymology: 18th Century: from Old Northern French wiket; related to Old Norse vikja to move