pluck

pluck
I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pluccian; akin to Middle High German pflücken to pluck Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to pull or pick off or out 2. a. to remove something (as hairs) from by or as if by plucking <
pluck one's eyebrows
>
b. rob, fleece 3. to move, remove, or separate forcibly or abruptly <
plucked the child from the middle of the street
>
4. a. to pick, pull, or grasp at b. to play by sounding the strings with the fingers or a pick intransitive verb to make a sharp pull or twitch • plucker noun II. noun Date: 15th century 1. an act or instance of plucking or pulling 2. the heart, liver, lungs, and trachea of a slaughtered animal especially as an item of food 3. courageous readiness to fight or continue against odds ; dogged resolution

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • plück — plück·er; …   English syllables

  • Pluck — Pluck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plucked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Plucking}.] [AS. pluccian; akin to LG. & D. plukken, G. pfl[ u]cken, Icel. plokka, plukka, Dan. plukke, Sw. plocka. ?27.] 1. To pull; to draw. [1913 Webster] Its own nature . . . plucks on… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pluck — pluck·er; pluck·i·ly; pluck·i·ness; pluck·less; pluck; pluck·less·ness; …   English syllables

  • pluck — [pluk] vt. [ME plukken < OE pluccian, akin to Ger pflücken < VL * piluccare, to pull out (> Fr éplucher), for L pilare, to deprive of hair < pilus, hair: see PILE2] 1. to pull off or out; pick 2. to drag or snatch; grab 3. to pull… …   English World dictionary

  • pluck´i|ly — pluck|y «PLUHK ee», adjective, pluck|i|er, pluck|i|est. having or showing courage: »a plucky dog. SYNONYM(S): brave, mettlesome, spirited. –pluck´i|ly …   Useful english dictionary

  • pluck|y — «PLUHK ee», adjective, pluck|i|er, pluck|i|est. having or showing courage: »a plucky dog. SYNONYM(S): brave, mettlesome, spirited. –pluck´i|ly …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pluck — Pluck, n. 1. The act of plucking; a pull; a twitch. [1913 Webster] 2. [Prob. so called as being plucked out after the animal is killed; or cf. Gael. & Ir. pluc a lump, a knot, a bunch.] The heart, liver, and lights of an animal. [1913 Webster] 3 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pluck — Pluck, v. i. To make a motion of pulling or twitching; usually with at; as, to pluck at one s gown. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pluck — (v.) late O.E. ploccian pull off, cull, from W.Gmc. *plokken (Cf. M.L.G. plucken, M.Du. plocken, Flem. plokken), perhaps from V.L. *piluccare (Cf. O.Fr. peluchier, late 12c.), a frequentative, ultimately from L. pilare pull out hair, from pilus… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pluck — [n] person’s resolution, courage backbone*, boldness, bravery, dauntlessness, determination, grit, guts*, hardihood, heart*, intestinal fortitude*, intrepidity, mettle, moxie*, nerve, resolution, spirit, spunk; concept 411 Ant. cowardice,… …   New thesaurus

  • pluck — ► VERB 1) take hold of (something) and quickly remove it from its place. 2) pull out (a hair, feather, etc.) 3) pull the feathers from (a bird s carcass) to prepare it for cooking. 4) pull at or twitch. 5) sound (a stringed musical instrument)… …   English terms dictionary

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