Small, spiny cucumbers pickled for eating, or the plant that produces them; a popular condiment served as a snack or topping.
From Dutch 'augurk,' which came from Greek 'angourion' (cucumber). The word traveled through European languages during the spice trade. Gherkins became especially popular in Victorian cuisine.
Gherkins prove how global trade changed what people eat—this Greek cucumber became popular in Northern Europe through Dutch traders, and now every hot dog needs one!
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