pucker n : an irregular fold in an otherwise even surface (as in cloth) [syn: ruck]

1 to gather something into small wrinkles or folds; "She puckered her lips" [syn: rumple, cockle, crumple, knit]

2 draw fabric together and sew it tightly [syn: gather, tuck]

3 become wrinkled or drawn together; "her lips puckered" [syn: ruck, ruck up]

English

Etymology

Probable alteration of (verb) poke

Verb

1. To pinch or wrinkle; to squeeze inwardly, to dimple or fold.

   1914 The conduct of the white strangers it was that caused him the greatest perturbation. He puckered his brows into a frown of deep thought. — Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, Chapter 13.

   1893 He had a very dark, fearsome face, and a gleam in his eyes that comes back to me in my dreams. His hair and whiskers were shot with gray, and his face was all crinkled and puckered like a withered apple. — Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Adventure of the Crooked Man".

Derived terms

• pucker up

Translations

Noun

1. A fold or wrinkle.

   1921 ''The mouth was compressed, and on either side of it two tiny wrinkles had formed themselves in her cheeks. An infinity of slightly malicious amusement lurked in those little folds, in the puckers about the half-closed eyes, in the eyes themselves, bright and laughing between the narrowed lids. — Aldous Huxley, Crome Yellow, Chapter 3.

2. A sour situation.

   1874 "What a pucker everything is in!" said Bathsheba, discontentedly when the child had gone. "Get away, Maryann, or go on with your scrubbing, or do something! You ought to be married by this time, and not here troubling me!" — Thomas Hardy, ''Far From the Madding Crowd.''

Translations

Pucker is a sour apple liqueur, similar in taste to both granny smith apples and green apple flavored candy. Made by the DeKuyper company it is just one of many in their line of fruit schnapps. By volume it is 15% alcohol (30 proof) and is often used in mixed drinks such as apple martinis.

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