picket
UK: ˈpɪkɪt | US: ˈpɪkɪt
n. 1. A pointed stake or post driven into the ground, often used for fencing or as a barrier.
n. 2. A person or group stationed outside a workplace or other location to protest or dissuade others from entering.
vt. 1. To enclose or secure with pickets.
vt. 2. To protest or demonstrate by standing or marching outside a building.
picket = pick<pointed tool> + et<diminutive suffix>
- pick (from Old French piquer, "to pierce or prick," ultimately from Vulgar Latin piccare) refers to a sharp or pointed object.
- et (diminutive suffix, from Old French -et) indicates a smaller or lesser version of something.
Etymology Origin:
The word picket originated in the late 17th century, derived from French piquet, meaning "a pointed stake." The root pick reflects its sharp, piercing function, while the suffix -et suggests a smaller or more refined version. Over time, picket expanded from its literal meaning of a pointed stake to include metaphorical uses, such as a person stationed to "pierce" or disrupt operations during protests.
The soldiers surrounded the camp with a picket fence.
Union members formed a picket line outside the factory.
She used wooden pickets to mark the garden boundary.
Protesters plan to picket the courthouse tomorrow.
The picket swayed slightly in the strong wind.