gherkin

[ gur-kin ]
/ ˈgɜr kɪn /

noun

the small, immature fruit of a variety of cucumber, used in pickling.
Also called bur gherkin, gooseberry gourd, West Indian gherkin. the small, spiny fruit of a tropical vine, Cucumis anguria, of the gourd family, used in pickling.
the plant yielding this fruit.
a small pickle, especially one made from this fruit.

Origin of gherkin

1655–65; < Dutch gurken, plural of gurk (German Gurke) < Slavic; compare Polish ogórek, Czech okurka ≪ Persian

Example sentences from the Web for gherkin

British Dictionary definitions for gherkin (1 of 2)

gherkin
/ (ˈɡɜːkɪn) /

noun

the immature fruit of any of various cucumbers, used for pickling
  1. a tropical American cucurbitaceous climbing plant, Cucumis anguria
  2. the small edible fruit of this plant

Word Origin for gherkin

C17: from early modern Dutch agurkkijn, diminutive of gurk, from Slavonic, ultimately from Greek angourion

British Dictionary definitions for gherkin (2 of 2)

Gherkin
/ (ˈɡɜːkɪn) /

noun

the Gherkin an informal name for Swiss Re Tower