A small printed or electronic card that shows you have paid for or are allowed to enter, travel, or take part in something. It can also be a notice of a fine for breaking a rule, like a parking ticket.
From Old French 'etiquette' meaning 'label, note,' which also gave English the word 'etiquette.' The sense of a small written note or pass developed in late Middle English. Over time, it specialized into proof of payment or permission.
The same root that gave us 'ticket' also gave us 'etiquette'—originally little written notes explaining court rules. A ticket is basically a portable piece of authority: it says 'you’re allowed' or 'you’re in trouble.' A scrap of paper (or a QR code) can control movement, money, and behavior.
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