Plucking

Pluck Pluck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plucked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Plucking}.] [AS. pluccian; akin to LG. & D. plukken, G. pfl["u]cken, Icel. plokka, plukka, Dan. plukke, Sw. plocka. ?27.] 1. To pull; to draw. [1913 Webster]

Its own nature . . . plucks on its own dissolution. --Je?. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

E'en children followed, with endearing wile, And plucked his gown to share the good man's smile. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]

3. To strip of, or as of, feathers; as, to pluck a fowl. [1913 Webster]

They which pass by the way do pluck her. --Ps. lxxx.?2. [1913 Webster]

4. (Eng. Universities) To reject at an examination for degrees. --C. Bront['e]. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]