cricket1
n.
an open-air game played on a large grass field with bat and ball between teams of eleven players, the batsmen attempting to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets.
Phrase
- not cricket
Brit. informal contrary to traditional standards of fairness or rectitude.
Derivative
- cricketer n.
- cricketing adj.
Etymology
C16: of unknown origin.
cricket2
n.
an insect related to the grasshoppers but with shorter legs, of which the male produces a characteristic musical chirping sound.
[Family Gryllidae: many species.]
▸used in names of similar insects of related families, e.g. bush cricket.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. criquet, from criquer ‘to crackle’, of imitative origin.