chicken

chick-en · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) kept for its eggs or meat.

  2. 2.

    (informal) Cowardly; afraid.

  3. 3.

    (uncountable) The flesh of a chicken used as food.

  4. 4.

    (informal) A coward; someone who lacks courage.

Forms

plural: chickens

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    chicken out — to fail to do something because of fear
  • •
    play chicken — to engage in a dangerous contest to see who gives in first
  • •
    count one's chickens before they hatch — to rely on something before it is certain
  • •
    like a chicken with its head cut off — in a frantic, disorganized manner
  • •
    no spring chicken — no longer young
  • •
    chicken feed — a very small amount of money

Related words

See also: chick, chickens, hen, rooster
Synonyms: fowl, hen (female), poultry, rooster (male)

Etymology

From Old English cicen ("young fowl"), a diminutive of cocc ("cock, rooster"). The sense of "coward" dates from the 17th century.