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pluck |
5 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Lyrie \Ly"rie\ (l[imac]"r[i^]), n. [Icel. hl[=y]ri a sort of fish.] (Zo["o]l.) A European fish ({Peristethus cataphractum}), having the body covered with bony plates, and having three spines projecting in front of the nose; -- called also {noble}, {pluck}, {pogge}, {sea poacher}, and {armed bullhead}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pluck \Pluck\, v. i. To make a motion of pulling or twitching; -- usually with at as to pluck at one's gown. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Pluck \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. (Zo["o]l.) The lyrie. [Prov. Eng.] From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. Its own nature . . . plucks on its own dissolution. --Je?. Taylor. 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. Bront['e]. {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. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: pluck n 1: the trait of showing courage and determination in spite of possible loss or injury [syn: {gutsiness}, {pluckiness}] [ant: {gutlessness}] 2: the act of pulling and releasing a taut cord v 1: pull or pull out sharply; "pluck the flowers off the bush" [syn: {tweak}, {pull off}, {pick off}] 2: sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and esp. underhanded activity [syn: {hustle}, {roll}] 3: rip off ask an unreasonable price [syn: {overcharge}, {soak}, {surcharge}, {gazump}, {fleece}, {plume}, {rob}, {hook}] [ant: {undercharge}] 4: pull lightly but sharply with a plucking motion, as of guitar strings; "he plucked the strings of his mandolin" [syn: {plunk}, {pick}] 5: strip of feathers; as of chickens [syn: {pull}, {tear}, {deplume}, {deplumate}, {displume}] 6: look for and gather; "pick mushrooms"; "pick flowers" [syn: {pick}, {cull}]
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