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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary

Kirby and gherkin

Many grocers in New York City, especially in Brooklyn call cucumber a ‘kurby’. Is it a regional word or slang and where it came from? I tried to find an answer online, as well as asking people from different regions, seems it sounds strange to most of them.

Can anybody help me with this word? Another one I am quite confused is a word ‘gherkin’. Is it just a pickled cucumber of a small size? Is this word regional as well as ‘kurby’ or all-English?

Thank you in advance.
All the best, Will.
  

Top answer

----------- gherkin 1 a : a small oblong prickly cucumber of West Indian origin that is used chiefly for pickling -- called also bur gherkin, West Indian gherkin b : a slender annual trailing vine ( Cucumis anguria ) that bears gherkins 2 : the immature fruit of the common cultivated cucumber especially when used for pickling --------

— Marius Hancu

  • ----------- gherkin 1 a : a small oblong prickly cucumber of West Indian origin that is used chiefly for pickling -- called also bur gherkin, West Indian gherkin b : a slender annual trailing vine ( Cucumis anguria ) that bears gherkins 2 : the immature fruit of the common cultivated cucumber especially when used for pickling --------
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9 Answers
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-----------
gherkin

1 a : a small oblong prickly cucumber of West Indian origin that is used chiefly for pickling -- called also bur gherkin, West Indian gherkin b : a slender annual trailing vine (Cucumis anguria) that bears gherkins
2 : the immature fruit of the common cultivated cucumber especially when used fo
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I checked the dictionary already. You didn't answer my question dear Marius Hancu. Emotion: sad
Will
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Looks like a kerby's a special kind of cucumber...

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It seems they are small cucumbers used for pickling: "3 PICKLING(CURBY) CUCUMBERS". That would match in terms of the original queston also relating to gherkins.
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A Kirby cucumber is quite short, and has little bumps on its skin. It can be used in pickles, or diced, sliced, etc. like an ordinary cucumber.

MrP
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Hi everyone,

Thank you for your help. Your posts definitely helped me.

Best wishes, Will.
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i´m pretty sure gherkin comes from german "gurken". the normal german word for cucumber.
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Hello Octoberman,

The words are no doubt related – the English "gherkin" derives from the early modern Dutch gurkkijn, which itself probably descends from the late Greek angourion.

All the best,

MrP
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hi mrpedantic,

thanks for the clarification. it all goes back to the greeks of course Emotion: smile
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