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Glite Dictionary
🃏 A card game ⚔️ A military penalty
piquet

piquet

9.9
An old military punishment that forced a soldier to stand on one foot on a pointed stake
  • noun
  • /pɪˈkeɪ/
  • NSFW
translation icon : piquet
  • The officer sentenced the deserter to endure the piquet for several hours.

Examples

  • British troops feared the cruel piquet punishment inflicted for minor offenses.

  • Historical records describe piquet as both painful and humiliating for soldiers.

  • The soldier was subjected to piquet as punishment.

  • In the 17th century, piquet was a common form of discipline.

  • The officer sentenced the deserter to endure the piquet as a severe punishment for his actions.

  • Historical accounts highlight how British soldiers dreaded the piquet, a punishment that caused immense pain.

  • In the late 17th century, being placed on piquet was considered a harsh disciplinary action within the army.

Synonyms

boot
vspiquet
  • NSFW
52 9.9

A metal device used in the past to crush or heat the foot to cause pain

focuses on forcing balance on a stake rather than crushing the foot
the boot
vspiquet
  • NSFW
5 9.9

A metal tool used in the past to crush a person's foot and leg during torture

focuses on forcing balance on a stake rather than crushing the foot
picket
vspiquet
  • NSFW
1 9.9

To make a soldier stand on one foot on a pointed stake as punishment

has identical meaning but is an alternate older spelling

Surface Forms

piquet singular
piquets plural

Etymology

Piquet was a cruel military punishment named after the French word piquet 'small pointed stake' and the verb piquer 'to prick'. Soldiers were forced to stand on a pointed stake as punishment, so the name directly describes the painful act.