pluck
UK: plʌk | US: plʌk
vt. to pull or pick something quickly or forcibly
vt. to remove feathers or hair from a bird or animal
n. courage or spirited determination (informal)
The word "pluck" originates from Old English pluccian, meaning "to pull or tear off." It is related to Middle Dutch plocken and German pflücken, all sharing the core idea of abrupt removal. Over time, the verb expanded metaphorically to describe acts of bravery ("plucking up courage"), likening inner resolve to physically pulling oneself together. The noun form emerged in the 18th century as slang for spiritedness, reinforcing the connection between forceful action and boldness.
She plucked a rose from the garden.
The chef plucked the feathers from the chicken before cooking.
It takes pluck to stand up to a bully.
He plucked the strings of the guitar gently.
They plucked the weeds from the vegetable patch.