—n.
1 a (often in pl.) food, esp. vegetables, preserved in brine, vinegar, mustard, etc. and used as a relish. b the brine, vinegar, etc. in which food is preserved.
2 colloq. a plight (a fine pickle we are in!).
3 Brit. colloq. a mischievous child.
4 an acid solution for cleaning metal etc.
—v.tr.
1 preserve in pickle.
2 treat with pickle.
3 (as pickled adj.) sl. drunk.
Etymology: ME pekille, pykyl, f. MDu., MLG pekel, of unkn. orig.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.