Double yuck: pickled ears, in the child's story book. Dic;tionary mentions other things equally
revolting.
souse 1
n.
5ME sows < OFr souz < OHG sulza, brine, akin to salz, SALT6
1 a pickled food, esp. the feet, ears, and head of a pig
2 liquid used for pickling; brine
3 the act of plunging into a liquid, esp. into brine for pickling
>4 [Slang] a drunkard
vt., vi.
soused, sous4ing
1 to pickle
2 to plunge or steep in a liquid

Dear tsuwm: the only place Yahoo! Search found that word was in a site so weird I could not
think it anything but garbage.
Kudos for your searching talent.