gherkin
noun
gher·kin ˈgər-kən 
1
a
: a small prickly fruit used for pickling
also : a pickle made from this fruit
b
: the slender annual vine (Cucumis anguria) of the gourd family that bears gherkins
2
: the immature fruit of the cucumber especially when used for pickling
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Add the mayonnaise, gherkin pickles and juice, celery, red onion, egg, a pinch each of salt, black pepper, and cayenne. 
BostonGlobe.com, 22 June 2021 The shipment of more than 52,000 pounds of shark fins, labeled as cucumbers and gherkins, was discovered during a routine inspection of a container vessel traveling from Panama to Hong Kong. Rachel Fobar, National Geographic, 3 Mar. 2020 Try the comprehensive Chef Board (regularly $18) loaded with burrata, coppa, prosciutto, peppered salami, fig jam, chef's olives, stone fruit, sweet gherkins and herbed pesto port wine derby cheddar. Georgann Yara, azcentral, 25 Nov. 2019 Check out Sunrise’s mini watermelon gherkins, odd and gorgeous things that are also called mouse melons. Amy Scattergoodstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2019 While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce: Stir together the mayonnaise, vinegar, chopped gherkins and their juice, mustard, sugar, garlic, horseradish, pepper and the pinch of salt in a medium bowl, until well incorporated. Bonnie S. Benwick, The Denver Post, 24 June 2019 Step 3 While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce: Stir together the mayonnaise, vinegar, chopped gherkins and their juice, mustard, sugar, garlic, horseradish, pepper and the pinch of salt in a medium bowl, until well incorporated. Bonnie S. Benwick, Washington Post, 19 June 2019 Fear not: There's a gherkin and a tomato slice pillow to accompany your seat of choice (condiments, sadly, will have to be passed up). Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 29 Apr. 2019 Canadian authorities are aiming at politically sensitive states and products, including gherkin pickles, lawn mowers and toilet paper from Wisconsin. Alan Freeman, Washington Post, 29 June 2018 See More
BostonGlobe.com, 22 June 2021 The shipment of more than 52,000 pounds of shark fins, labeled as cucumbers and gherkins, was discovered during a routine inspection of a container vessel traveling from Panama to Hong Kong. Rachel Fobar, National Geographic, 3 Mar. 2020 Try the comprehensive Chef Board (regularly $18) loaded with burrata, coppa, prosciutto, peppered salami, fig jam, chef's olives, stone fruit, sweet gherkins and herbed pesto port wine derby cheddar. Georgann Yara, azcentral, 25 Nov. 2019 Check out Sunrise’s mini watermelon gherkins, odd and gorgeous things that are also called mouse melons. Amy Scattergoodstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2019 While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce: Stir together the mayonnaise, vinegar, chopped gherkins and their juice, mustard, sugar, garlic, horseradish, pepper and the pinch of salt in a medium bowl, until well incorporated. Bonnie S. Benwick, The Denver Post, 24 June 2019 Step 3 While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce: Stir together the mayonnaise, vinegar, chopped gherkins and their juice, mustard, sugar, garlic, horseradish, pepper and the pinch of salt in a medium bowl, until well incorporated. Bonnie S. Benwick, Washington Post, 19 June 2019 Fear not: There's a gherkin and a tomato slice pillow to accompany your seat of choice (condiments, sadly, will have to be passed up). Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 29 Apr. 2019 Canadian authorities are aiming at politically sensitive states and products, including gherkin pickles, lawn mowers and toilet paper from Wisconsin. Alan Freeman, Washington Post, 29 June 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Dutch gurken, plural of gurk cucumber, ultimately from Middle Greek agouros
First Known Use
1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1a