piccalilli

IPA/ˌpɪk.əˈlɪl.i/
IPA/ˈpɪk.ə.lɪl.i/

piccalilli — noun

1. a food made from finely chopped vegetables that are kept in a spicy yellow musta

1.nounC1
Definition

a food made from finely chopped vegetables that are kept in a spicy yellow mustard liquid, often served with cold cooked meat or cheese

Example

Camila spread a thick layer of piccalilli on her ham sandwich at lunch.

collocation: spread piccalilli on [bread]

In Ezra's hometown, piccalilli is often served with sausages at summer barbecues.

passive: is served with

Common collocations
  • a jar of piccalilli
  • serve piccalilli with
  • spread piccalilli on
  • piccalilli and cold meat
  • homemade piccalilli
  • a spoonful of piccalilli
Synonyms
  • relish

    broader term; piccalilli is a specific type of mustard-based relish

  • chutney

    similar in texture but usually fruit-based with vinegar, not mustard

  • pickle

    general term for preserved vegetables; piccalilli is one kind of pickle

Grammar Patterns

often used in: a jar of piccalilli / some piccalilli

Usage Note

Uncountable noun — you cannot say 'a piccalilli'. Refer to quantities as 'some piccalilli', 'a jar of piccalilli', or 'a spoonful of piccalilli'. This is especially common in British English; in American English the similar condiment is often called 'pickle relish'.

Common Mistakes

I bought a piccalilli at the supermarket.
I bought a jar of piccalilli at the supermarket.
piccalilli is uncountable; use 'a jar of' or 'some' to refer to a quantity.
This piccalilli are very spicy.
This piccalilli is very spicy.
piccalilli takes a singular verb even though it contains many vegetable pieces.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe something you add to food for extra flavour, but they differ in what they refer to. 'Relish' is the broadest — any sauce or chopped vegetable mixture eaten with savoury dishes; piccalilli is a type of relish. 'Chutney' is closer in texture but is usually made from fruit (mango, apple, onion) cooked with vinegar and sugar, giving it a sweet-sour taste, while piccalilli is mustard-based and savoury. 'Pickle' covers any vegetable preserved in brine or vinegar — a single pickled cucumber is 'a pickle', whereas piccalilli is a mixture of many chopped vegetables. 'Condiment' is the most general word for anything added at the table (ketchup, mustard, salt). For example: 'Would you like relish or chutney with your curry?' — but only piccalilli has the bright yellow mustard sauce.

relish ↗chutney ↗pickle ↗condiment ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a jar of piccalilli
  • serve piccalilli with
  • spread piccalilli on
  • homemade piccalilli

Prepositions

Etymology

possibly Hindi/MalayEnglish

The word 'piccalilli' first appeared in English in the mid-1700s. Its exact origin is uncertain, but it may come from a blend of 'pickle' and a Hindi or Malay word meaning something pickled or spicy. British cooks created the bright yellow mustard version that is now the standard meaning.

First known use

1769

1769, in the meaning defined above