Brave and determined despite facing difficulties or danger; courageous in the face of challenges.
From 'pluck,' which originally meant to pull out feathers from a bird, then evolved to mean courage or spirit (as in 'having pluck'). The '-y' suffix makes it an adjective, emerging in 19th-century usage.
The word 'plucky' comes from literally plucking birds, but became a metaphor for pulling yourself together and facing challenges—it's as if courage means toughening up and pulling yourself by your bootstraps!
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