plucky

Etymology

pluck (“nerve, persistence”) + -y

adj

1. (informal) Having or showing pluck, courage or spirit in trying circumstances.
   For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury, / Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century 1890, W. S. Gilbert, “The Modern Major-General”, in Songs of a Savoyard
   At the start of the hearing, Mr. Bezos introduced himself as a lucky and humble example of the success of American democracy — the son of a plucky mother and a supportive, immigrant father who “fostered my curiosity and encouraged me to dream big.” 2020-07-29, “Lawmakers From Both Sides Take Aim at Big Tech Executives”, in New York Times