Spot the Frippet: wicket.

I was writing about Ewoks the other day, and I remembered that Wicket is my favourite of all the ewoks. I love teh fact that he's so passionate about getting to be a warrior even though he's pretty much unable to pronounce the word.

I accept that we're unlikely to spot an Ewok as we go about our daily commute, but there are other wickets to be seen.

You play cricket on one (the wicket is the strip of very closely mown grass where the players run up and down). In England many villages have cricket pitches, recognisable at this time of year by the sight-screen and the pavilion (the game of cricket involves an official meal break). Just to confuse things, the wicket is also the name of each of the groups of three sticks which sits at each end of the mown-grass wicket. It's also a batsman's turn at batting, though the term is only used under certain very specific circumstances.

A wicket door is a small door or gate, especially one within a larger door:


photo Of All Saints Church (I'm afraid I don't know where it is) by Evelyn Simak

 In the USA a wicket can be small window used for selling tickets etc.

Then there's the wicket which is a small sluice gate which forms part of a lock gate, or a water-wheel system; or (again in the USA) a croquet hoop.

Wickets, wickets, everywhere, and all much closer than Endor.

Mind you, if you see a bus going that way, I'd seize the chance to take it.

Word To Use Today: wicket. This word comes from the Old Northern French wiket, which is related to the Old Norse vikja, to move.