hen-and-chickens

[ hen-uhn-chik-uhnz ]

noun

, plural hens-and-chickens.

1. any of several succulent plants that grow in clusters or colonies formed by runners or offshoots, as those of the genera Echeveria and Sempervivum.

hen-and-chickens

noun

1. functioning as singular or plural any of several plants, such as the houseleek and ground ivy, that produce many offsets or runners

Word History and Origins

Origin of hen-and-chickens¹

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

Owing to their habit of producing a circle of young plants around the parent, they are commonly called "hen-and-chickens."

From Project Gutenberg

Each schooner has several dories, which fish all round it, thus suggesting what is often called the hen-and-chickens style.

From Project Gutenberg