Definition
An early warning perimeter of guards or sensors designed to detect approaching enemies before they reach main defensive positions. The military's doorbell system, except it rings when people you don't like show up uninvited with guns.
Example Usage
Set up listening posts along the picket line at 500-meter intervals—I want advance warning of any approach.
Origin
From 'picket,' a pointed stake used in fortifications and tethering horses
Fun Fact
The term crossed over to labor movements, where striking workers form 'picket lines'—same concept of creating a monitored boundary, different stakes.
Source: Military security operations and defensive tactics
Related Terms
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See “Picket Line” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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