n., adj., & v.
n. (pl. same or chickens) 1 a young bird of a domestic fowl. 2 a a domestic fowl prepared as food. b its flesh. 3 a youthful person (usu.with neg. : is no chicken). 4 colloq. a children's pastime testing courage, usu. recklessly.
adj. colloq. cowardly.
v.intr. (foll. by out) colloq. withdraw from or fail in some activity through fear or lack of nerve. chicken-and-egg problem (or dilemma etc.) the unresolved question as to which of two things caused the other. chicken brick an earthenware container in two halves for roasting a chicken in its own juices. chicken cholera see CHOLERA. chicken-feed 1 food for poultry. 2 colloq. an unimportant amount, esp. of money. chicken-hearted (or -livered) easily frightened; lacking nerve or courage. chicken-wire a light wire netting with a hexagonal mesh.
[ OE cicen, cycen f. Gmc ]