chick

American  

[chik] / tʃɪk /

noun

1. a young chicken or other bird.

2. a child.

3. Slang: Often Offensive. a term used to refer to a girl or young woman.

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chick British  

/ tʃɪk /

noun

1. the young of a bird, esp of a domestic fowl

2. slang a girl or young woman, esp an attractive one

3. a young child: used as a term of endearment

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Sensitive Note

As a term used to refer to a young woman, chick is slightly dated. Originally it was perceived as insulting because of the perception that it infantilized women. Now the word has been embraced by some women as a positive term of self-reference and an expression of camaraderie. When used as a modifier, as in chick flick and chick lit, its meaning is not restricted to young women and its use is not offensive.

Etymology

Origin of chick

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English chike, variant of chiken; chicken

Example Sentences

Years ago, Steers dedicated herself to keeping an eye on a newly hatched chick, watching as it grew and eventually took flight.

From Los Angeles Times

Extinction was projected only in hypothetical scenarios where very low juvenile survival occurred, with around 20% failing to reach adulthood, combined with extremely poor reproduction limited to a maximum of one chick per pair.

From Science Daily

Somewhere in the night he’d flipped the bookcase over and floated the rest of the way lying inside, dozing safe as a chick in its nest.

From Literature

I made out distant activity—the vast wings being folded and, perhaps, chicks being fed.

From Literature

Volunteer duties could also include boat counts of seabird species and checking on chick productivity or grey seal monitoring, depending on the time of year.

From BBC

Related Words

• gal
• girl
• woman
• young woman