pucker
UK[ˈpʌkə(r)]US[ˈpʌkər]
v
To tighten skin or cloth until small folds appear
n
A small fold or wrinkle
Etymology
The word 'pucker' originates from a frequentative form of the Middle English verb 'pouken' or 'poken', meaning to pluck, poke, or bag. This Middle English term is likely related to or influenced by the Low German 'pucken', meaning to gather or pucker. The core semantic idea is one of gathering or contracting material into small folds or wrinkles through a pinching or plucking action. The addition of the frequentative '-er' suffix emphasizes the repeated, small-scale nature of the action, leading to its modern meaning of forming a series of small gathers or wrinkles, as in puckering one's lips.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form. It is a frequentative verb formation from the Middle English word 'pouk' or 'poken', meaning to poke or bag. The '-er' suffix is a frequentative or iterative verb-forming element in English, indicating a repeated or small action.
Examples
She puckered her lips to give him a kiss.
The fabric puckered where the thread was pulled too tight.
His forehead puckered in a frown as he concentrated.