To gather or contract into wrinkles or folds, typically of fabric or skin. Can also refer to the facial expression made when tasting something sour.
From Middle English pukeren, possibly from Old Norse pukra meaning 'to wrinkle' or 'gather.' The word evolved to describe both physical wrinkling and the facial expression associated with sour tastes.
The connection between fabric wrinkling and sour facial expressions reveals how our language links physical and emotional responses. Interestingly, the phrase 'pucker up' for kissing uses this same concept of lip contraction, showing how one word can bridge textiles, taste, and romance.
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