1. (n.) A stake sharpened or pointed, especially one used in fortification and encampments, to mark bounds and angles; or one used for tethering horses.

2. (n.) A pointed pale, used in marking fences.

3. (n.) A detached body of troops serving to guard an army from surprise, and to oppose reconnoitering parties of the enemy; -- called also outlying picket.

4. (n.) By extension, men appointed by a trades union, or other labor organization, to intercept outsiders, and prevent them from working for employers with whom the organization is at variance.

5. (n.) A military punishment, formerly resorted to, in which the offender was forced to stand with one foot on a pointed stake.

6. (n.) A game at cards. See Piquet.

7. (v. t.) To fortify with pointed stakes.

8. (v. t.) To enclose or fence with pickets or pales.

9. (v. t.) To tether to, or as to, a picket; as, to picket a horse.

10. (v. t.) To guard, as a camp or road, by an outlying picket.

11. (v. t.) To torture by compelling to stand with one foot on a pointed stake.

Argus Charley advance guard airplane spotter anchor armed guard bank guard bar beef bind bitch blockade boggle box in boycott bridle bulkhead in call in question chain challenge coast guard complain cordon cordon sanitaire cry out against demonstrate demonstrate against demonstrator demur dismember dispute draw and quarter enchain enclose enter a protest entrammel expostulate fasten fence fence in fetter fire patrolman fire warden fireguard flying squadron forward observer garrison go on strike go out goalie goalkeeper goaltender goon goon squad grill guard guarder guardsman gyve hamper handcuff hedge hem hem in hobble hog-tie hold out holler hopple howl impale inlying picket jailer keelhaul kick lash leash leg lock out lookout lookout man make fast manacle march moor night watchman object observer outguard outpost pale paling palisade patrol patroller patrolman peg peg down picket line picketer picquet pile pin down pinion post press objections protest protester put in irons rack rail raise a howl rally rear guard remonstrate restrain revolt rope roundsman scout scruple secure security guard sentinel sentry shackle shank shut in shut it down sit down sit in slow down spile spotter squawk stake stanchion state a grievance straitjacket strap strike striker strong-arm man tar and feather teach in tether tie tie down tie up torture train guard trammel upright van vanguard vedette vertical walk out wall wall in ward warder watch watcher watchkeeper watchman yell bloody murder