tree cricket

noun

See under cricket1(def 1).

Origin of tree cricket

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Words nearby tree cricket

trecento, tredecillion, tree, tree aster, tree creeper, tree cricket, tree diagram, tree ear, tree farm, tree fern, tree frog

Definition for tree cricket (2 of 2)

cricket 1
[ krik-it ]
/ ˈkrɪk ɪt /

noun

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).
a small metal toy with a flat metal spring that snaps back and forth with a clicking, cricketlike noise when pressed.

Origin of cricket

1
1275–1325; Middle English criket insect < Old French criquet, equivalent to criqu(er) to creak (imitative) + -et -et

OTHER WORDS FROM cricket

crick·et·like, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for tree cricket

  • My trees are troubled with roundhead borers, and my apples with codling-moth and tree-cricket.

    The Apple |Various

  • The shrill screech of a tree-cricket, breaking forth at that moment, hindered me from hearing the reply.

    The Wild Huntress |Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for tree cricket (1 of 3)

cricket 1
/ (ˈkrɪkɪt) /

noun

any insect of the orthopterous family Gryllidae, having long antennae and, in the males, the ability to produce a chirping sound (stridulation) by rubbing together the leathery forewings
any of various related insects, such as the mole cricket

Word Origin for cricket

C14: from Old French criquet, from criquer to creak, of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for tree cricket (2 of 3)

cricket 2
/ (ˈkrɪkɪt) /

noun

  1. a game played by two teams of eleven players on a field with a wicket at either end of a 22-yard pitch, the object being for one side to score runs by hitting a hard leather-covered ball with a bat while the other side tries to dismiss them by bowling, catching, running them out, etc
  2. (as modifier)a cricket bat
not cricket informal not fair play

verb (intr)

to play cricket

Derived forms of cricket

cricketer, noun

Word Origin for cricket

C16: from Old French criquet goalpost, wicket, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for tree cricket (3 of 3)

cricket 3
/ (ˈkrɪkɪt) /

noun

a small low stool

Word Origin for cricket

C17: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases with tree cricket

cricket

see not cricket.