chicken
n. C / Un. a common farm bird that people keep for its eggs and meat. In casual conversation, you can also use it to describe someone who is not brave.
n. a common domestic fowl, Gallus gallus domesticus, raised for its meat and eggs. In informal registers, it functions as a metaphor for a person lacking courage or resolve.
The farmer feeds the chicken every morning.
We decided to have roasted chicken and fresh vegetables for our Sunday dinner.
While the primary agricultural value of the chicken lies in mass food production, its role in rural economies often extends to pest control and soil fertilization.
From Middle English chiken (also as chike > English chick), from Old English ċicen, ċycen (“chicken”), of uncertain origin. Possibly from Proto-West Germanic kiukīn (“chicken”), or alternatively from Proto-West Germanic kukkīn, equivalent to cock + -en. Compare North Frisian schückling (“chicken”), Saterland Frisian Sjuuken (“chicken”), Dutch kuiken (“chick, chicken”), German Low German Küken (“chick”), whence German Küken (“chick”), (elevated, obsolete) German Küchlein (“chick”) and Old Norse kjúklingr (“chicken”).
Shortening of chicken out.
From chick + -en (plural ending).
Countable when referring to the individual bird; uncountable when referring to the meat as food.
I ate a chicken for lunchI ate chicken for lunchWhen referring to meat as a food category, the word is uncountable and does not take an article.