chicken

/ˈtʃɪkən/

/ˈtʃɪkɪn/

Other forms: chickens

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.

Definitions of chicken

1. noun

   a domestic fowl bred for flesh or eggs; believed to have been developed from the red jungle fowl
   synonyms: Gallus gallus

   types:

   biddy, chick

   young bird especially of domestic fowl

   cock, rooster

   adult male chicken

   capon

   castrated male chicken

   biddy, hen

   adult female chicken

   spring chicken

   a young chicken having tender meat

   Rhode Island red

   American breed of heavy-bodied brownish-red general-purpose chicken

   Dominick, Dominique

   American breed of chicken having barred grey plumage raised for meat and brown eggs

   Orpington

   English breed of large chickens with white skin

   cockerel

   a young domestic cock; not older than one year

   cackler

   a hen that has just laid an egg and emits a shrill squawk

   brood hen, broody, broody hen, setting hen, sitter

   a domestic hen ready to brood

   mother hen

   a hen with chicks

   layer

   a hen that lays eggs

   pullet

   young hen usually less than a year old

   type of:

   domestic fowl, fowl, poultry

   a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl
2. noun

   the flesh of a chicken used for food
   synonyms: poulet, volaille

   types:

   broiler

   flesh of a small young chicken not over 2 1/2 lb suitable for broiling

   capon

   flesh of a castrated male chicken

   frier, fryer, pullet

   flesh of a medium-sized young chicken suitable for frying

   roaster

   flesh of a large young chicken over 3 1/2 lb suitable for roasting

   spatchcock

   flesh of a chicken (or game bird) split down the back and grilled (usually immediately after being killed)

   hen

   flesh of an older chicken suitable for stewing

   Oven Stuffer, Oven Stuffer Roaster

   a brand name for a roasting chicken

   type of:

   poultry

   flesh of chickens or turkeys or ducks or geese raised for food
3. adjective

   easily frightened
   synonyms: chickenhearted, lily-livered, white-livered, yellow, yellow-bellied

   cowardly, fearful

   lacking courage; ignobly timid and faint-hearted
4. noun

   a person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy
   synonyms: crybaby, wimp

   type of:

   doormat, weakling, wuss

   a person who is physically weak and ineffectual
5. noun

   a foolhardy competition; a dangerous activity that is continued until one competitor becomes afraid and stops
   type of:

   competition, contest

   an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants