PLUCK

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