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chick

[ chik ]
/ tʃɪk /
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See synonyms for: chick / chicks on Thesaurus.com

noun
a young chicken or other bird.
a child.
Slang: Often Offensive. a term used to refer to a girl or young woman.
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Origin of chick

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

usage note for chick

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.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH chick

chic, chick
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chick in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chick

chick
/ (tʃɪk) /

noun
the young of a bird, esp of a domestic fowl
slang a girl or young woman, esp an attractive one
a young child: used as a term of endearment

Word Origin for chick

C14: short for chicken
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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