Jump to:

• gherkin
  gherkin

  noun

  the small, immature fruit of a variety of cucumber, used in pickling.
• Gherkin
  Gherkin

  noun

  an informal name for Swiss Re Tower

gherkin

American  

[gur-kin] / ˈgɜr kɪn /

noun

1. the small, immature fruit of a variety of cucumber, used in pickling.

2. Also called bur gherkin,.  Also called gooseberry gourd,.  Also called West Indian gherkin.  the small, spiny fruit of a tropical vine, Cucumis anguria, of the gourd family, used in pickling.

3. the plant yielding this fruit.

4. a small pickle, especially one made from this fruit.

---

gherkin ¹ British  

/ ˈɡɜːkɪn /

noun

1. the immature fruit of any of various cucumbers, used for pickling

2. 1. a tropical American cucurbitaceous climbing plant, Cucumis anguria

   2. the small edible fruit of this plant

---

Gherkin ² British  

/ ˈɡɜːkɪn /

noun

1. an informal name for Swiss Re Tower

---

Etymology

Origin of gherkin

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

Example Sentences

The gherkins “symbolized for me the last thing you have in your cupboards when you run out of everything. It starts from the last gherkin jar, and from there it all goes south.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2025

On the box, the burgers - made from fava bean and pea protein - are described as "succulent and tangy" and "with an American style mustard and gherkin melt".

From BBC • Aug. 16, 2024

In the melting pot we call Amur’can, Disagreeable stew has been perkin’, Made from yammering yam With a thick slice of ham And a limp, insignificant gherkin.

From Washington Post • Sep. 7, 2017

Collectively it is like the plates offered by doomed, over-eager contestants in Masterchef: chilli and kiwi fruit vanilla gherkin lemongrass.

From The Guardian • Nov. 11, 2012

Mix together four olives, one gherkin, a tablespoonful of capers and one large green, sweet pepper, chopped very fine.

From Sandwiches by Rorer, Sarah Tyson Heston