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chicken

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The definition of chicken is a domestic bird used for meat and laying eggs, the meat that comes from such a bird, or is a slang term for someone who is fearful or cowardly.

(noun)

A bird that lives in a barn and lays eggs is an example of a chicken.
A person who is afraid to dive in the pool even after every single one of his friends did is an example of someone who might be called a chicken.

See chicken in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a common gallinaceous farm bird (Gallus domesticus) raised for its edible eggs or flesh; hen or rooster, esp. a young one: classed in a family (Phasianidae) that includes pheasants, quail, and peafowl
the flesh of this bird
any young bird; chick
a young or inexperienced person
Slang
1. a timid or cowardly person
2. a young male homosexual
Origin: < chickenshit
Mil. Slang petty insistence on rules

Origin: ME chicken < OE cycen < WGmc *kiukina < *kiuk-; like cock, of echoic orig.; akin to MLowG kûken (Du kuiken, kieken)

adjective

made of chicken: chicken croquettes
small and tender: a chicken lobster
Slang timid or cowardly
☆
Origin: cf. chicken
Mil. Slang characterized by unnecessary discipline or pettiness

intransitive verb

Slang to lose courage and abandon a plan or action: usually with out

See chicken in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. The common domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) or its young.
b. Any of various similar or related birds.
c. The flesh of the common domestic fowl.
Slang A coward.
Any of various foolhardy competitions in which the participants persist in a dangerous course of action until one loses nerve and stops.
Vulgar Slang A young gay male, especially as sought by an older man.

adjective

Slang Afraid; cowardly.

intransitive verb chick·ened, chick·en·ing, chick·ens
Slang

To act in a cowardly manner; lose one's nerve: chickened out at the last moment.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English chiken

Origin: , from Old English cīcen

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