wicket

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
wicket/ˈwɪkɪt/

▶noun

• 1 Cricket each of the sets of three stumps with two bails across the top at either end of the pitch, defended by a batsman.

  ■ the prepared strip of ground between these two sets of stumps.

  ■ the dismissal of a batsman.

• 2 a small door or gate, especially one beside or in a larger one.

  ■ N. Amer. an opening in a wall or screen through which customers are served.

• 3 N. Amer. a croquet hoop.

– phrases
at the wicket Cricket

• 1 batting.

• 2 by the wicketkeeper.

a sticky wicket

• 1 Cricket a pitch that has been drying after rain and is difficult to bat on.

• 2 informal a tricky or awkward situation.

– origin ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. and Old North. Fr. wiket; origin uncertain, usu. referred to the Gmc root of ON vīkja ‘to turn, move’.