Etymology of English

Cricket:

Meaning:

any of several jumping, orthopterous insects of the family Gryllidae, characterized by long antennae and stridulating organs on the forewings of the male, as one of the species commonly found in pastures and meadows (field cricket) or on trees and shrubs (tree cricket).

Etymology:

"insect," c.1325, from O.Fr. criquet (12c.), from criquer "to creak, rattle, crackle," of echoic origin.

Meaning:

a game, popular esp. in England, for two teams of 11 members each that is played on a field having two wickets 22 yards (20 m) apart, the object being to score runs by batting the ball far enough so that one is enabled to exchange wickets with the batsman defending the opposite wicket before the ball is recovered.

Etymology:

"game," 1598, apparently from O.Fr. criquet "goal post, stick," perhaps from M.Du./M.Flem. cricke "stick, staff." Sense of "fair play" is first recorded 1851, on notion of "cricket as it should be played."