I. noun
also pi·quet ˈpikə̇t, usu -ə̇d.+V
( -s )
Etymology: French piquet, from Middle French, from piquer to prick, pierce + -et — more at pike
1. : a pointed or sharpened stake, post, peg, or pale: as
a. : a pale used in making fences
b. : a stake used in constructing revetments, obstacles, and fences
c. : picket pin 1
d. : a peg for a tent rope
e. : range pole
f. : a stake on which in a former mode of military punishment the offender was forced to stand with one foot ; also : this punishment
2.
a. : a detached body of soldiers serving to guard an army from surprise and to oppose reconnoitering parties of the enemy — called also outlying picket
b. : a detachment kept ready in camp for such duty — called also inlying picket
c. : a detail to bring in those who have overstayed leave
d. : sentinel
e. : the duty of serving as a picket
f. : picket ship
3. : a person posted by a labor organization at an approach to the place of work affected by a strike to ascertain the workmen going and coming and to persuade or otherwise influence them to quit working there ; also : one posted similarly in a demonstration as a protest against a policy of government
4. : an elongated bullet of cylindroconical form
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to enclose, fasten, fence, or fortify with pickets : palisade
2.
a. : to guard (as a camp or road) by an outlying picket
b. : to post as a picket
3. : tether
4.
a. : to post pickets at (a place of employment)
b. : to walk or stand in front of as a picket
intransitive verb
: to take up the station and duties of a military or labor picket : do or go on picket duty
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
: tern