pickle-herring

noun

1

: a pickled herring

2

[Dutch pekelharing, from German pickelhering, from Pickelhering, droll comic character of the 17th century German stage] : buffoon

Word History

Etymology

obsolete Dutch pekel-haerinck (now pekelharing), from Dutch pekel pickle + obsolete Dutch haerinck herring (from Middle Dutch harinc, herinc)

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