piccalilli

American  

[pik-uh-lil-ee] / ˈpɪk əˌlɪl i /

noun

plural

piccalillis

1. a pungent relish of East Indian origin, made of chopped vegetables, mustard, vinegar, and hot spices.

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piccalilli British  

/ ˈpɪkəˌlɪlɪ /

noun

1. a pickle of mixed vegetables, esp onions, cauliflower, and cucumber, in a mustard sauce

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Etymology

Origin of piccalilli

1760–70; earlier piccalillo Indian pickle; obscurely akin to pickle ¹

Explanation

In some regions of the U.S., piccalilli is a condiment made of finely chopped sweet peppers, pickles, or tomatoes. You might add piccalilli to your hotdog or hamburger at a summer cookout. The word piccalilli (originally piccalillo) comes from pickle. The earliest versions of these chopped vegetable concoctions were a reinterpretation of traditional South Asian pickle by British colonizers. Piccalilli in all its forms is much less spicy than the Indian version; in England, it's often made with cauliflower and cucumber, and seasoned with turmeric and mustard. Classic American pickle relish is also a kind of piccalilli.

Example Sentences

There’s an extra charge for crusty whole-grain bread that’s not made in-house but worth having alongside the porky slab of Huntsham Court Farm terrine with piccalilli.

From New York Times • Jul. 15, 2016

The rib-eye is smartly paired with piccalilli and mini cheddar-and-horseradish popovers, just the rousing contrapuntal notes for the meat's rich marbling and char.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 24, 2010

"You had to import Bird's custard, Branston pickle and piccalilli... you had to buy PG Tips and then deal with the French milk."

From The Guardian • Apr. 24, 2010

Troche, scintilla, poliomyelitis, calyx, cirrus, piccalilli, lachrymose, geodesy, insipid .

From Time Magazine Archive

Green tomato pickles, chow chow, piccalilli carry the piquant tang of the tomato to enliven the winter table.

From The Tomato by Work, Paul