to pluck down

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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Its own nature . . . plucks on its own dissolution.
                                                  --Je?. Taylor.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude.
                                                  --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            E'en children followed, with endearing wile,
            And plucked his gown to share the good man's smile.
                                                  --Goldsmith.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To strip of, or as of, feathers; as, to pluck a fowl.
      [1913 Webster]

            They which pass by the way do pluck her. --Ps.
                                                  lxxx.?2.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Eng. Universities) To reject at an examination for
      degrees. --C. Bront['e].
      [1913 Webster]

   {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.
          [1913 Webster]