pluck

The word 'pluck' originates from the Old English pluccian, a verb of imitative origin meant to evoke the sound or action of pulling or picking. This core sense of pulling something away, especially with a quick, sharp motion, naturally extended to the specific domestic task of pulling feathers from a bird. The abstract noun sense, meaning 'courage' or 'determination,' is a metaphorical development from the 18th century, comparing the quality of spirit to the 'heart, liver, and lungs' (collectively called the 'pluck') which were physically 'plucked' or pulled out from the carcass of an animal. Thus, the word journeyed from an imitative sound, to a physical action, and finally to a valued inner quality.

This is a simplex word of Germanic origin. The Old English root pluccian or ploccian is considered onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of something being pulled or snapped off.