pucker
pronunciation
How to pronounce pucker in British English:
UK [ˈpʌkə(r)]
How to pronounce pucker in American English:
US [ˈpʌkɚ]
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- Noun:
- an irregular fold in an otherwise even surface (as in cloth)
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- Verb:
- to gather something into small wrinkles or folds
- draw fabric together and sew it tightly
- become wrinkled or drawn together
Word Origin
- pucker
- pucker: [16] The etymological notion underlying pucker seems to be of forming into ‘pockets’ or small baglike wrinkles (the same idea led to the use of the verb purse for ‘wrinkle, pucker’ – now dated in general usage, but fossilized in the expression purse the lips). The word was based on the stem pock- of pocket.
- pucker (v.)
- 1590s, "prob. earlier in colloquial use" [OED], possibly a frequentative form of pock, dialectal variant of poke "bag, sack" (see poke (n.1)), which would give it the same notion as in purse (v.). "Verbs of this type often shorten or obscure the original vowel; compare clutter, flutter, putter, etc." [Barnhart]. Related: Puckered; puckering.
- pucker (n.)
- 1726, literal; 1741, figurative; from pucker (v.).
Example
- 1. So why is it that we love to pucker up ?
- 2. Not too tight . I want to leave room for some pucker !
- 3. Stacey calls a guy over to pucker up .
- 4. An obvious pucker in the seam of her dress .
- 5. Don 't you ever pucker your lips at me , you arrogant jerk !