Cricket vs. cricket?

Posted by R. Berg on October 26, 2002

In Reply to: Cricket vs. cricket? posted by Word Camel on October 26, 2002

: I have often wondered about the connection between "cricket", the game and "cricket", the insect. I have read several definitions that say they are both from the Old French "criquet", but then they give different meanings for "criquet" - one is to chirp imitatively and the other is a wooden stick.

: Is there a connection? I'm also wondering - just in passing - if there are crickets (the insects) in Britain. I never heard any in all my time there. (Though I did once give a friend a mechanical one).

: Camel

OED agrees that "cricket" the insect comes from F. "criquet" but says "etymology uncertain" (and lots more, all of it inconclusive) for "cricket" the game.