An alternative etymology suggestsProto-Germanic*plukkōną,*plukkijaną may have been borrowed from an assumedVulgar Latin*pilūc(i)cāre, a derivative of Latinpilāre(“deprive of hair, make bald, depilate”), frompilus(“hair”). The Oxford English Dictionary, however, finds difficulties with this and cites gaps in historical evidence.[1]
The noun sense of "heart, liver, and lights of an animal" comes from it being plucked out of the carcass after the animal is killed; the sense of "fortitude, boldness" derives from this meaning, originally being a boxing slang denoting aprize-ring, with semantic development from "heart", the symbol of courage, to "fortitude, boldness".
The girl stooped topluck a rose, and as she bent over it, her profile was clearly outlined.
2020 December 2, Andy Byford talks to Paul Clifton, “I enjoy really big challenges...”, inRail, page53:
"I want to bring that date forward. You only get one shot at this, and if Ipluck a date from the air, you will judge me by it. So, until I am certain, I'm sticking with the previous date. [...].
1937, Labour Party (Great Britain),Report of the Annual Conference (volumes 37-40, page 281)
First of all, he says a lot of the promotions from the ranks are promotions of the sons of officers who have gone wrong , or got "plucked," or what not, and who are brought up again along another road for commissioned rank.
The hardest mission fell to the tanker aircraft, decidedly unglamorous birds, mainly flown by Air Force Reserve crews—most of themplucked from their airline jobs—so rapidly called into service that FAA rules for crew rest time on domestic airlines were quietly violated for the next several weeks.
Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she wouldpluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust.
1835, Scriblerus Redivivus [pseudonym;Edward Caswall], “Topics Concerning Pluck”, inA New Art Teaching How to be Plucked,[…], Oxford, Oxfordshire: J. Vincent,→OCLC,page34:
For arguing that a man will beplucked take the Topics following: for among men likely to beplucked are these for the most part. He that hath no friends, he that hath many friends; the first because he hath none to put him in the right way; the second, because he hath many to draw him therefrom.
Let us hide our heads, and shut up the page. The lists came out; and a dreadful rumour rushed through the university, that Pendennis of Boniface wasplucked.
"Well, the gooseberry pie is really too deep for me: but 'ploughed' is the new Oxfordish for 'plucked.' O mamma, have you forgotten that? 'Plucked' was vulgar, so now they are 'ploughed.' 'For smalls; but I hope I shall not be, to vex you and Puss.'"
1884 May 8,William Stubbs, “XVII. A Last Statutory Public Lecture”, inSeventeen Lectures on the Study of Medieval and Modern History and Kindred Subjects, published1887,page440:
I trust that I have neverplucked a candidate in the Schools without giving him every opportunity of setting himself right.
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Those tiny birds are hardly worth the tediouspluck.
2006, Tom Cunliffe,Complete Yachtmaster, page40:
If you find yourself in this position, there is nothing for it but to haul out using external assistance. This may be from a friend who will give you apluck off the wall, or you may be able to manage from your own resources.
Pen had a very good mare, and rode her with uncommonpluck and grace. He took his fences with great coolness, and yet with judgment, and without bravado.
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