a domestic fowl, Gallus domesticus, descended from various jungle fowl, especially the red jungle fowl, and developed in a number of breeds for its flesh, eggs, and feathers.
the young of this bird, especially when less than a year old.
the flesh of the chicken, especially of the young bird, used as food.
Slang.
a cowardly or fearful person.
a young or inexperienced person, especially a young girl.
petty details or tasks.
unnecessary discipline or regulations.
a young gay male, especially one sought as a sexual partner by older men.
a contest in which two cars approach each other at high speed down the center of a road, the object being to force one's opponent to veer away first.
a policy or strategy of challenging an opponent to risk a clash or yield: diplomats playing chicken at the conference table.
adjective
(of food) containing, made from, or having the flavor of chicken: chicken salad; chicken soup.
Slang.
cowardly.
petty or trivial: a chicken regulation.
obsessed with petty details, regulations, etc.: He's quitting this chicken outfit to become his own boss.
Verb Phrases
chicken out,Slang.
to refrain from doing something because of fear or cowardice:I chickened out when I saw how deep the water was.
to renege or withdraw: You can't chicken out of this business deal now.
Idioms for chicken
count one's chickens before they are hatched, to rely on a benefit that is still uncertain: They were already spending wildly, in anticipation of their inheritance, counting their chickens before they were hatched.
Origin of chicken
First recorded before 950; 1605–15 for def. 4a; 1940–45 for def. 6; Middle English chiken, Old English cīcen; akin to Middle Dutch kieken (Dutch kuiken ), Low German küken
These Food Names Aren’t What You Think They AreWhen you see mountain oysters on the menu, don’t expect a lovely plate of mollusks caught at the base of Black Mountain in San Francisco Bay.