Picket
/ˈpɪkɪt/noun
A person or group stationed to stand watch, protest, or guard; also a pointed stake or fence post.
Did you know?The protest sense of *picket* comes from military usage for a small outpost or guard detail, while the fence-post sense comes from a different but related French source, and they converged in English.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
Middle French
piquet
“a small pointed stake; also a military outpost or guard post”
16th Century
English
picket
“a pointed stake used in fencing or fortification”
17th Century
English
picket
“a soldier or small guard detachment posted to watch or warn”
19th Century
English
picket
“a line of protesters stationed outside a place, especially to persuade or discourage others”