- OE. pickenpikken, to prick, peck; akin to Icel. pikka, Sw. picka, Dan. pikke, D. pikken, G. picken, F. piquer, W. pigo. Cf. Peckv.PikePitch to throw
- To throw; to pitch.ObsAs high as I could pick my lance.
- To peck at, as a bird with its beak; to strike at with anything pointed; to act upon with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to prick, as with a pin.
- To separate or open by means of a sharp point or points; as, to pick matted wool, cotton, oakum, etc.
- To open (a lock) as by a wire.
- To pull apart or away, especially with the fingers; to pluck; to gather, as fruit from a tree, flowers from the stalk, feathers from a fowl, etc.
- To remove something from with a pointed instrument, with the fingers, or with the teeth; as, to pick the teeth; to pick a bone; to pick a goose; to pick a pocket.Did you pick Master Slender's purse?He picks clean teeth, and, busy as he seems With an old tavern quill, is hungry yet.
- To choose; to select; to separate as choice or desirable; to cull; as, to pick one's company; to pick one's way; -- often with out.One manpickedout of ten thousand.
- To take up; esp., to gather from here and there; to collect; to bring together; as, to pick rags; -- often with up; as, to pick up a ball or stones; to pick up information.
- To trim.Obs
