Plŭck1, v. t.
[imp. & p. p. PLUCKED (plŭkt); p. pr. & vb. n. PLUCKING.] [A-S. pluccian, and lyccan, luccan, lucian, locian, L. Ger. & D. plukken, Dan. plukke, Sw. & Icel. plocka. Cf. LUG.]
Sense 1. To pull; to draw.
Its own nature did the mischief, and plucks on its own dissolution. Bp. Taylor.
Sense 2. Especially, to pull with sudden force or effort, or to pull off, out, or from, with a twitch; to twitch; as, to pluck feathers from a fowl; to pluck hair or wool from a skin; to pluck grapes or other fruit.
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.
Sense 3. To strip by plucking; as, to pluck a fowl.
They that pass by the way do pluck her. Ps. lxxx. 12.
Sense 4. (Eng. Universities.) To reject at an examination as unworthy of a testimonial for a degree; that is, to strip of borrowed feathers.
To pluck away, to pull away, or to separate by pulling; to tear away. — To pluck down, to pull down; to demolish; or to reduce to a lower state. — To pluck down a side, to cause the loss of a game by ignorance or treachery. Beau. & Fl. — To pluck off, to pull or tear off; as, to pluck off the skin. — To pluck on, to pull or draw on. [Obs.] Shak. — To pluck out, to draw out suddenly, or to tear out; as, to pluck out the eyes; to pluck out the hand from the bosom. Ps. lxiv. 11. — 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. “Pluck up spirits, then, and at once vanquish these hurtful tendernesses.” Evelyn.