Present participle of plug; filling a hole or gap to prevent flow or leakage. Can also mean promoting something persistently or connecting electrical devices.
From Middle Dutch 'plugge' meaning 'peg' or 'stopper.' The word entered English in the 17th century, evolving from physical blocking to metaphorical uses like 'plugging away' (persisting) and 'plugging a product' (promoting), reflecting the idea of filling gaps in knowledge or markets.
The phrase 'plugging away' perfectly captures the methodical nature of persistence - like filling holes one by one until the job is complete! In our digital age, 'plugging in' has become a metaphor for connecting to the modern world, while 'unplugging' represents the opposite desire to disconnect and find peace.
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