chicken

American  

[chik-uhn] / ˈtʃɪk ən /

noun

• chickens
  plural

1. a domestic fowl, Gallus domesticus, descended from various jungle fowl, especially the red jungle fowl, and developed in a number of breeds for its flesh, eggs, and feathers.

2. the young of this bird, especially when less than a year old.

3. the flesh of the chicken, especially of the young bird, used as food.

4. Slang.

   1. a cowardly or fearful person.

   2. a young or inexperienced person, especially a young girl.

   3. petty details or tasks.

   4. unnecessary discipline or regulations.

   5. a young gay male, especially one sought as a sexual partner by older men.

5. a contest in which two cars approach each other at high speed down the center of a road, the object being to force one's opponent to veer away first.

6. a policy or strategy of challenging an opponent to risk a clash or yield.

   diplomats playing chicken at the conference table.

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adjective

1. (of food) containing, made from, or having the flavor of chicken.

   chicken salad; chicken soup.

2. Slang.

   1. cowardly.

   2. petty or trivial.

      a chicken regulation.

   3. obsessed with petty details, regulations, etc..

      He's quitting this chicken outfit to become his own boss.

verb phrase

1. chicken out

   1. to refrain from doing something because of fear or cowardice.

      I chickened out when I saw how deep the water was.

   2. to renege or withdraw.

      You can't chicken out of this business deal now.

idioms

1. count one's chickens before they are hatched, to rely on a benefit that is still uncertain.

   They were already spending wildly, in anticipation of their inheritance, counting their chickens before they were hatched.

chicken British  

/ ˈtʃɪkɪn /

noun

1. a domestic fowl bred for its flesh or eggs, esp a young one

2. the flesh of such a bird used for food

3. any of various similar birds, such as a prairie chicken

4. slang a cowardly person

5. slang a young inexperienced person

6. slang an underage boy or girl regarded as a potential target for sexual abuse

7. informal any of various, often dangerous, games or challenges in which the object is to make one's opponent lose his nerve

8. to be overoptimistic in acting on expectations which are not yet fulfilled

9. informal disorganized and uncontrolled

10. slang no longer young

    she's no chicken

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adjective

1. slang easily scared; cowardly; timid

chicken More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing chicken

• count one's chickens
• go to bed with (the chickens)
• like a chicken with its head cut off
• no spring chicken

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• chickens
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of chicken

First recorded before 950; 1605–15 chicken for def. 4a; 1940–45 chicken for def. 6; Middle English chiken, Old English cīcen; akin to Middle Dutch kieken ( Dutch kuiken ), Low German küken

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Explanation

A chicken is a domesticated bird that is raised on farms for meat or eggs. Many cities allow people to keep a few chickens in their yards as pets and egg layers. You can talk about your pet chicken with its brown feathers and funny feet, but you might also use the word chicken to order dinner at a restaurant: "I'll have the chicken." When a person is described as a chicken, it means she's easily scared or a coward. The Old English cicen, "young fowl," is the source of chicken. Calling someone chicken for being frightened has been hurting feelings since the 14th century.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chicken chickens

“Fertilize the fig trees, straighten up the coat closet, fix the coffee machine, tidy the garage, grill the chicken, take the Chanel shoes to get stretched,” House said, rattling off her tasks for the day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

When the chicken is nearly done, melt a slice of Muenster cheese over each piece.

From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026

They have traditional beef and cheese, chicken, pastrami and brisket variations—along with a “Jewish Cheesesteak” with brisket, pepper jack, coleslaw and Russian dressing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

I started with Pacific Foods chicken miso ramen broth, adding extra miso and coconut cream for richness, then used chicken I’d already grilled earlier in the week for protein.

From Salon ● Nov. 5, 2026

I was squalling like a scared chicken as I was pulled to the head of my bed, and propped to a sitting position with a pillow.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

In 2025, a report by the Danish Veterinary and Food Authority found that using slower growing chickens was linked to better animal welfare.

From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026

Plenty of people in these pages count their chickens before they’ve hatched, so we can forgive Daniel’s children allowing their expectations to get in the way of reality.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

As well as the exotic animals, Wale also kept horses, goats, chickens and ducks, according to the enforcement appeal.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

“The chickens are coming home to roost for a lot of people,” said Sean Burton, chief executive of the multifamily firm Cityview.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

Then, while tending chickens one day, he killed one by accident.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

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