chick

chick · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A young bird, especially a newly hatched chicken.

  2. 2.

    (informal, sometimes considered offensive) A young woman or girl.

Forms

plural: chicks

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    chick flick — (informal) a movie appealing primarily to women
  • •
    chick lit — (informal) literature genre targeting young women
  • •
    spring chicken — a young person (often in "no spring chicken" meaning not young)

Related words

See also: bird, chicken, chicks, hen
Synonyms: baby bird, girl (slang sense), hatchling (formal)

Etymology

Short form of chicken, from Middle English chike, chiken. The slang sense referring to a young woman emerged in American English in the early 20th century.