Gherkin

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: gher=kin

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.

Etymology

Du. gurkkijn (unrecorded), dimin. of gurk, f. Slavonic, ult. f. med. Gk aggourion