pluck
(plŭk)
[Middle English plukken, from Old English pluccian, probably from Vulgar Latin* piluccāre, ultimately from Latin pilāre, from pilus, hair.]
verb: plucked, pluck·ing, plucks.
transitive verb
- To remove or detach by grasping and pulling abruptly with the fingers; pick: pluck a flower; pluck feathers from a chicken.
- To pull out the hair or feathers of: pluck a chicken.
- To remove abruptly or forcibly: plucked the child from school in midterm.
- To give an abrupt pull to; tug at: pluck a sleeve.
- Music To sound (the strings of an instrument) by pulling and releasing them with the fingers or a plectrum.
intransitive verb
- To give an abrupt pull; tug.
noun
- The act or an instance of plucking.
- Resourceful courage and daring in the face of difficulties; spirit.
- The heart, liver, windpipe, and lungs of a slaughtered animal.
derivatives
- plucḱer
- noun