Part 351

2. Especially, to pull with sudden force or effort, or to pull off or out from something, with a twitch; to twitch; also, to gather, to pick; as, to pluck feathers from a fowl; to pluck hair or wool from a skin; to pluck grapes.

I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude.

Milton.

E'en children followed, with endearing wile, And plucked his gown to share the good man's smile.

Goldsmith.

3. To strip of, or as of, feathers; as, to pluck a fowl.

They which pass by the way do pluck her.

Ps. lxxx.&?;2.

4. (Eng. Universities) To reject at an examination for degrees. C. BrontÈ.

To pluck away, to pull away, or to separate by pulling; to tear away. -- To pluck down, to pull down; to demolish; to reduce to a lower state. -- to pluck off, to pull or tear off; as, to pluck off the skin. -- to pluck up. (a) To tear up by the roots or from the foundation; to eradicate; to exterminate; to destroy; as, to pluck up a plant; to pluck up a nation. Jer. xii. 17. (b) To gather up; to summon; as, to pluck up courage.

Pluck, v. i. To make a motion of pulling or twitching; -- usually with at; as, to pluck at one's gown.

Pluck, n. 1. The act of plucking; a pull; a twitch.

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.

3. Spirit; courage; indomitable resolution; fortitude.

Decay of English spirit, decay of manly pluck.

Thackeray.

4. The act of plucking, or the state of being plucked, at college. See Pluck, v. t., 4.

5. (Zoˆl.) The lyrie. [Prov. Eng.]

Plucked (?), a. Having courage and spirit. [R.]

Pluck"er, n. 1. One who, or that which, plucks.

Thou setter up and plucker down of kings.

Shak.

2. A machine for straightening and cleaning wool.

Pluck"i*ly (?), adv. In a plucky manner.

Pluck"i*ness, n. The quality or state of being plucky.

Pluck"less, a. Without pluck; timid; faint-hearted.

Pluck"y (?), a. [Compar. Pluckier (?); superl. Pluckiest.] Having pluck or courage; characterized by pluck; displaying pluck; courageous; spirited; as, a plucky race.

If you're plucky, and not over subject to fright.