D defs.my
Entry 7 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Pickle

/pĭk'-əl/ · Pic·kle · IPA /ˈpɪkəl/
01 n. See Picle.
  1. 1.
    See Picle.[Obs.] See: Picle
02 n. A solution of salt and water, in which fish, meat, etc., may be preserved or corned; brine.
  1. 1.
    A solution of salt and water, in which fish, meat, etc., may be preserved or corned; brine.
  2. 2.
    Any article of food which has been preserved in brine or in vinegar.
  3. 3.
    A bath of dilute sulphuric or nitric acid, etc., to remove burnt sand, scale rust, etc., from the surface of castings, or other articles of metal, or to brighten them or improve their color.(Founding)
  4. 4.
    A troublesome child; as, a little pickle.[Colloq.]
Phrases & compounds
To be in a pickle — to be in disagreeable position; to be in a condition of embarrassment, difficulty, or disorder.
To put a rod in pickle — to prepare a particular reproof, punishment, or penalty for future application.
03 v. t. To preserve or season in pickle; to treat with some kind of pickle; as, to pickle herrings or cucumbers.
imp. & p. p. Pickled; p. pr. & vb. n. Pickling
  1. 1.
    To preserve or season in pickle; to treat with some kind of pickle; as, to pickle herrings or cucumbers.
  2. 2.
    To give an antique appearance to; -- said of copies or imitations of paintings by the old masters.