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chicken

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈtʃɪkən// UK //tʃˈɪkɪn// chick·en
  1. 1 the bird (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a common farm bird that people keep for its eggs and meat.

    a domesticated subspecies of red junglefowl, Gallus gallus domesticus, typically raised for egg production or meat.

    Example

    The farmer has twenty chickens that wander around the yard every morning.

    Example

    The local cooperative focuses on heritage breeds of chicken, arguing that they are more resilient to the regional climate than industrial varieties.
  2. 2 the meat (n.)
    A1 Beginner Cooking

    the meat from a chicken used as food.

    the flesh of the chicken used as a culinary protein. Uncountable in this sense.

    Example

    We are having roasted chicken with potatoes for dinner tonight.

    Example

    The chef recommended marinating the chicken in lemon and herbs for several hours to ensure the meat remained tender during the high-heat roasting process.
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  1. 3 a coward (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    someone who is afraid to do something.

    a person perceived as lacking courage or being easily intimidated. Countable; often used as a derogatory label in informal speech.

    Example

    Don't be such a chicken — the water isn't even that cold.

    Example

    He was tired of being called a chicken by his peers, so he finally agreed to go on the steepest roller coaster in the park.
  2. 4 game of dare (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a game where two people do something dangerous to see who gets scared first.

    a game or situation in which two parties engage in a dangerous activity to see which one will yield or withdraw first.

    Example

    The two drivers were playing a dangerous game of chicken on the narrow road.

    Example

    The trade negotiations devolved into a high-stakes game of chicken, with neither nation willing to lower tariffs until the other made the first move.
  3. 5 cowardly (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    being afraid or not brave.

    exhibiting a lack of courage; cowardly. Used predicatively or before a noun in informal registers.

    Example

    He was too chicken to ask her for a dance.

    Example

    Despite his tough exterior, he admitted he was too chicken to watch the horror movie alone in the dark.
  4. 6 to back out (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    to decide not to do something because you are afraid.

    to withdraw from a commitment or situation due to fear or loss of nerve. Usually appears as the phrasal verb 'chicken out'.

    Example

    I was going to go skydiving, but I chickened out at the last minute.

    Example

    She had planned to confront her manager about the unpaid overtime, but she chickened out when she saw how busy the office was.

    Usage

    Usually used with 'out' as 'chicken out'.
Etymology 1

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”).

Etymology 2

Shortening of chicken out.

Etymology 3

From chick + -en (plural ending).

Idioms6 entries

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