n. & v.
n. 1 a (often in pl.) food, esp. vegetables, preserved in brine, vinegar, mustard, etc. and used as a relish. b the brine, vinegar, etc. in which food is preserved. 2 colloq. a plight (a fine pickle we are in!). 3 Brit. colloq. a mischievous child. 4 an acid solution for cleaning metal etc.
v.tr. 1 preserve in pickle. 2 treat with pickle. 3 (as pickled adj.) sl. drunk.
[ ME pekille, pykyl, f. MDu., MLG pekel, of unkn. orig. ]