/gerr"kin/ , n.
1. the small, immature fruit of a variety of cucumber, used in pickling.
2. Also called bur gherkin, 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, esp. one made from this fruit.
[ 1655-65; gurken, pl. of gurk (G Gurke ) ogórek, Czech okurka ]