Pluck, pluk, v.t. to pull off or away: to snatch: to strip, as a fowl of its feathers: (slang) to reject an examinee as inefficient.—n. a single act of plucking.—n. Pluck′er.—Pluck off (Shak.), to abate from the rank; Pluck up, to pull out by the roots: to summon up, as courage. [A.S. pluccian; akin to Dut. plukken, Ger. pflücken.]
Pluck, pluk, n. the heart, liver, and lungs of an animal—hence heart, courage, spirit.—adjs. Plucked, Pluck′y, having pluck or spirit.—adv. Pluck′ily.—n. Pluck′iness.
Pluffy, pluf′i, adj. puffy: blown out.—n. Pluff (Scot.), a puff of smoke or dust.—v.t. to throw out such.
Plug, plug, n. a block or peg used to stop a hole: a bung: a stopper: a branch from a water-pipe to supply a hose: a flat cake of tobacco: any worn-out or useless article: (slang) a silk hat.—v.t. to stop with a plug: to drive plugs into:—pr.p. plug′ging; pa.t. and pa.p. plugged.—ns. Plug′ger, one who, or that which, plugs, esp. a dentist's instrument for filling a hollow tooth; Plug′ging, the act of stopping with a plug: the material of which a plug is made; Plug′-ug′ly, a street ruffian.—Fire plug, a contrivance by means of which a hose can be fixed to a water-main in case of fire. [Dut. plug, a bung, a peg (Sw. plugg, a peg, Ger. pflock); most prob. Celt., as in Ir., Gael., and W. ploc.]
Plum, plum, n. a well-known stone fruit of various colours, of the natural order Rosaceæ: the tree producing it: the best part of all: a sum of £100,000, a handsome fortune.—ns. Plum′-cake, a cake containing raisins, currants, &c.; Plum′-duff, a flour-pudding boiled with raisins.—adj. Plum′my, full of plums: desirable.—ns. Plum′-porr′idge, an antiquated dish, of porridge with plums, raisins, &c.; Plum′-pudd′ing, a national English dish made of flour and suet, with raisins, currants, and various spices. [A.S. plúme—L. prunum—Gr. prounon.]
Plumage, plōōm′āj, n. the whole feathers of a bird. [Fr.,—plume, a feather.]
Plumb, plum, n. a mass of lead or other material, hung on a string, to show the perpendicular position: the perpendicular direction or position.—adj. perpendicular.—adv. perpendicularly.—v.t. to adjust by a plumb-line: to make perpendicular: to sound the depth of, as water by a plumb-line.—n. Plumb′-bob, a conoid-shaped metal weight at the end of a plumb-line.—adjs. Plum′bēan, Plum′bēous, consisting of, or resembling, lead: stupid; Plumb′ic, pertaining to, or obtained from, lead; Plumbif′erous, producing lead.—n. Plumb′ing, the art of casting and working in lead, &c.—adj. Plumb′less, incapable of being sounded.—ns. Plumb′-line, a line to which a mass of lead is attached to show the perpendicular: a plummet; Plumb′-rule, a narrow board with a plumb-line fastened to the top, used to determine a perpendicular. [Fr. plomb—L. plumbum, lead.]
Plumbagineæ, plum-ba-jin′ē-ē, n.pl. a natural order of oxogenous plants found on seashores and salt-marshes.
Plumbago, plum-bā′go, n. a mineral composed of carbon, iron, and other materials, used for pencils, &c., popularly called 'blacklead:' graphite: a genus of plants with blue or violet flowers.—adj. Plumbag′inous. [L. plumbum, lead.]
Plumber, plum′ėr, n. one who works in lead, esp. one who fits into buildings the tanks, pipes, and fittings for conveying water, gas, and sewage.—ns. Plumb′er-block, a metal frame or case for holding the end of a revolving shaft: a pillow-block; Plumb′ery, articles of lead: the business of a plumber: a place for plumbing.