Cricket
/ˈkrɪk.ɪt/noun
A small jumping insect with loud chirping sounds, or a bat-and-ball game played on a field.
Did you know?The insect name is an old imitative word for its chirping, and the sport’s name likely comes from a different source entirely, showing that one modern word can hide two separate histories.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
English
cricce
“A creaking or crackling sound-word, probably imitative in origin.”
Middle English
English
criket
“A small insect associated with chirping or creaking sounds.”
16th Century
English
cricket
“The insect, especially the chirping field cricket.”
16th-17th Century
English
criquet / cricket
“The bat-and-ball game name, probably from Old French or Middle Dutch forms related to a stick or staff.”
Modern English
English
cricket
“An insect; also a bat-and-ball sport.”