I. ˈplək 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
pluck ed 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
• pluck·er 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