Pull (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Pulled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Pulling.] [AS. pullian; cf. LG. pulen, and Gael. peall, piol, spiol.] 1. To draw, or attempt to draw, toward one; to draw forcibly.
Ne'er pull your hat upon your brows. Shak.
He put forth his hand... and pulled her in. Gen. viii. 9.
2. To draw apart; to tear; to rend.
He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate. Lam. iii. 11.
3. To gather with the hand, or by drawing toward one; to pluck; as, to pull fruit; to pull flax; to pull a finch.
4. To move or operate by the motion of drawing towards one; as, to pull a bell; to pull an oar.
5. (Horse Racing) To hold back, and so prevent from winning; as, the favorite was pulled.
6. (Print.) To take or make, as a proof or impression; — hand presses being worked by pulling a lever.
7. (Cricket) To strike the ball in a particular manner. See Pull, n., 8.
Never pull a straight fast ball to leg. R. H. Lyttelton.
To pull and haul, to draw hither and thither. “ Both are equally pulled and hauled to do that which they are unable to do. ” South. — To pull down, to demolish; to destroy; to degrade; as, to pull down a house. “ In political affairs, as well as mechanical, it is easier to pull down than build up.” Howell. “ To raise the wretched, and pull down the proud.” Roscommon. — To pull a finch. See under Finch. — To pull off, take or draw off.