Word Study
gherkin
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun gherkin has 2 senses
CIDE DICTIONARY
gherkin, n. [D. agurkje, a dim. akin to G. gurke, Dan. agurke; cf. Pol. ogórek, Bohem. okurka, LGr. 'aggoy`rion watermelon, Ar. al-khiyār, Per. khiyār.].
- A kind of small, prickly cucumber, much used for pickles. [1913 Webster]
- See Sea gherkin. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
gherkin, n.
1 a small variety of cucumber, or a young green cucumber, used for pickling.
2 a a trailing plant, Cucumis sativus, with cucumber-like fruits used for pickling. b this fruit.
1 a small variety of cucumber, or a young green cucumber, used for pickling.
2 a a trailing plant, Cucumis sativus, with cucumber-like fruits used for pickling. b this fruit.
Etymology
Du. gurkkijn (unrecorded), dimin. of gurk, f. Slavonic, ult. f. med. Gk aggourion
For further exploring for "gherkin" in Webster Dictionary Online
