v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. (often foll. by out, off, etc.) remove by picking or pulling out or away.
2 tr. strip (a bird) of feathers.
3 tr. pull at, twitch.
4 intr. (foll. by at) tug or snatch at.
5 tr. sound (the string of a musical instrument) with the finger or plectrum etc.
6 tr. plunder.
7 tr. swindle.
--n.
1. courage, spirit.
2 an act of plucking; a twitch.
3 the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal as food.
Phrases and idioms:
pluck up summon up (one's courage, spirits, etc.).
Derivatives:
plucker n. pluckless adj.
Etymology: OE ploccian, pluccian, f. Gmc