picking

The word 'picking' is a straightforward deverbal noun formed from the verb 'pick' and the Old English action-noun suffix '-ing'. The verb 'pick' itself has a complex history, likely arising from a blend of influences including the Old English pician (to prick) and the Old French piquer (to pierce or sting), both pointing to a core Proto-Germanic notion of a pointed action. This foundational sense of using a pointed tool or the fingers to detach or select something evolved into the modern abstract meanings. Consequently, 'picking' logically encapsulates the action or result of this verb, covering the specific acts of selecting, harvesting, or plucking strings, all united by the concept of a deliberate, pointed, or choosy action.

Structure: pick (to choose/pluck) + ing (noun suffix) - pick: Of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle English pikken, related to Old English pician (to prick) and influenced by Old French piquer (to prick, sting). It functions as the core verb root. - ing: From Old English -ung, -ing, a suffix forming verbal nouns indicating an action or its result. It functions as a deverbal noun suffix.