pickle

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
pickle/ˈpɪkl/

▶noun

• 1 a relish consisting of vegetables or fruit preserved in vinegar, brine, or mustard.

  ■ N. Amer. a cucumber preserved in this way.

  ■ liquid used to preserve food or other perishable items.

• 2 (a pickle) informal a difficult situation.

• 3 an acid solution for cleaning metal objects.

▶verb

• 1 preserve (food) in pickle.

• 2 immerse (a metal object) in an acid solution for cleaning.

• 3 (as adj. pickled) informal drunk.

– derivatives
pickler noun.

– origin ME: from MDu., Mid. Low Ger. pekel, of unknown ultimate origin.