The term IT MAY BE PLUGGED OR PIERCED can be solved by the three-letter word EAR. This term is referring to body piercings, which are a form of body modification where jewelry is inserted into a person's skin. EAR piercings are one of the most common types of body piercings, and can be done with either a piercing gun or a needle. Plugs, which are also known as flesh tunnels, are another type of EAR piercing that involve inserting a hollow tube into the earlobe.