First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1chicken
noun chick·en \ˈchi-kən, sometimes -kəŋ\
: a bird that is raised by people for its eggs and meat
: the meat of the chicken used as food
: a person who is afraid
Full Definition of CHICKEN
1
a : the common domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) especially when young; also : its flesh used as food — compare jungle fowl b : any of various birds or their young
2
: a young woman
3
a : coward b : any of various contests in which the participants risk personal safety in order to see which one will give up first
4
[short for chickenshit] slang : petty details
5
slang : a young male homosexual
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Origin of CHICKEN
Middle English chiken, from Old English cicen young chicken; akin to Old English cocc cock
Related to CHICKEN
2chicken
adjective
: too afraid to do something
Full Definition of CHICKEN
2
See chicken defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CHICKEN
1941
Related to CHICKEN
- Synonyms
- cowardly, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow
- Antonyms
- brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous
3chicken
verb
chick·enedchick·en·ing \ˈchi-kən-iŋ, ˈchik-niŋ\
Definition of CHICKEN
intransitive verb
: to lose one's nerve —usually used with out <seemed to exhibit courage, manliness, and conviction when others chickened out — J. R. Seeley>
See chicken defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CHICKEN
1943
CHICKEN Defined for Kids
1chicken
noun chick·en \ˈchi-kən\
Definition of CHICKEN for Kids
1
: a bird that is commonly raised by people for its eggs and meat : a hen or rooster
2
: the meat of a chicken used as food
3
: coward
2chicken
adjective
Definition of CHICKEN for Kids
: cowardly 1 <He's too chicken to go on the rollercoaster.>
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