Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small opening (like a window in a door) for transactions: A wicket is a small, often sliding or hinged, opening in a door or wall through which business can be conducted, such as selling tickets or receiving mail.
   • A small gate or door, especially within a larger one: A wicket can refer to a small door or gate set within a larger door or gate, often for pedestrian access.
   • A small arch used in croquet: In the sport of croquet, a wicket is one of the small wire arches through which the ball must be hit.
   • Cricket equipment consisting of three stumps and two bails: In cricket, the wicket is the set of three vertical stumps topped by two horizontal crosspieces (bails), which the batsman defends and the bowler aims to hit.

Usage Examples

• As a small opening:

  • I purchased my train ticket at the wicket.
  • The bank teller spoke to me through the security wicket.

• As a small gate:

  • He entered the garden through the wicket in the main gate.
  • The castle's large door contained a small, iron wicket.

• As croquet equipment:

  • She skillfully hit the ball through the first wicket.
  • The course has nine wickets to pass through.

• As cricket equipment:

  • The bowler's delivery hit the wicket.
  • The batsman was out when the ball dislodged the bails from the wicket.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on a good wicket" (idiom, chiefly British): To be in a favorable or advantageous position.

  • With his new contract, he's on a good wicket.

• "To be on a sticky wicket" (idiom, chiefly British): To be in a difficult, awkward, or disadvantageous situation.

  • The politician was on a sticky wicket after the scandal was revealed.

Variants and Related Words

• Wicket-keeper (noun): In cricket, the fielder positioned directly behind the wicket to catch the ball.

  • The wicket-keeper made a spectacular catch.

• Wicket-gate (noun): Another term for a small gate, especially one for pedestrians.

  • They met by the old wicket-gate at the edge of the field.

Synonyms

• Hatch: A small opening in a wall or door, similar to a wicket for transactions.
• Turnstile: A gate that allows one person to pass at a time, sometimes related in function.
• Stumps (in cricket): Refers specifically to the three vertical posts of the wicket.

Related Phrases

• Take a wicket (cricket): For a bowler to get a batsman out, typically by hitting the wicket.

  • The fast bowler took five wickets in the match.

• Defend the wicket (cricket): The primary role of the batsman to protect the wicket from being hit by the ball.

  • His job was to defend the wicket while the other batsman scored runs.

Related Idioms

• "Keep wicket": To act as the wicket-keeper in cricket.
  • He has kept wicket for the national team for a decade.

Noun

1. small opening (like a window in a door) through which business can be transacted
2. small gate or door (especially one that is part of a larger door)
3. a small arch used as croquet equipment
4. cricket equipment consisting of a set of three stumps topped by crosspieces; used in playing cricket