Cro*quet" (kr?-k?"), n. [From French; cf. Walloon croque blow, fillip. F. croquet a crisp biscuit, croquer to crunch, fr. croc a crackling sound, of imitative origin. Croquet then properly meant a smart tap on the ball.]

1. An open-air game in which two or more players endeavor to drive wooden balls, by means of mallets, through a series of hoops or arches set in the ground according to some pattern.

2. The act of croqueting.

Cro*quet", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Croqueted (-k?d); p. pr. & vb. n. Croqueting (-k?"?ng).] In the game of croquet, to drive away an opponent's ball, after putting one's own in contact with it, by striking one's own ball with the mallet.

• (uncountable) A game played on a lawn, in which players use mallets to drive wooden balls through hoops (wickets)
  
• (uncountable) A shot in this game in which the opponent's ball is driven away by hitting one's own ball when they are in contact
  
• (uncountable) A croquette.
  
• To use a croquet to drive away an opponent's ball.