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Show When Pluck Wi SI an ST. This word affords an instance of the way in which slang words in the course of time became adopted into current English. Eng-lish. We now meet with pluck and plucky as the recognized equivalents of "courage" and "courageous." An entry in Sir Walter Scott's "Journal" shows that in 1827 the word had npt yet lost its low character, lie says (vol. H, p. 80), "Want of that article blackguardly called pluck." Its origin is obvious. From early times the heart has been popularly regarded as the seat of courage. cour-age. Now, when a butcher lays open a t carcass he divides the great vessels of the ! heart, cute through the windpipe and then plucks out together the united heart and lungs lights he calls them and he terms the united mass "the pluck." Not and Queries. I |