chicken

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A common farm bird kept for its eggs and meat.

   They keep a few chickens in the backyard for fresh eggs.

2. 2
   noun

   The meat of this bird, eaten as food.

   We had roast chicken with potatoes for dinner.

3. 3
   noun

   A person who is afraid to do something; a coward.

   Come on, jump in the water, don't be such a chicken!

4. 4
   adj

   Too afraid to do something; cowardly.

   He was too chicken to ask her to dance.

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”).

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