I. ˈchikə̇n sometimes -k ə ŋ esp when another word, as “coop” or “pie”, follows without pause noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English chiken, from Old English cicen, cycen young chicken; akin to Middle High German kuchen young chicken, Old Norse kjūklingr gosling, Old English cocc cock — more at cock
1.
a. : the common domestic fowl ( Gallus gallus ) ; also now Britain : the young of this bird when less than one year old
b. : the flesh especially of the young of such fowl used as food
2. : the young of any of various especially gallinaceous birds whose young run about soon after hatching
3. slang : a young person, especially a woman : chick I 3
4. : coward , sissy
5. slang : a young woman of easy familiarity
6. slang : the details of duty or discipline considered unnecessary or an imposition : petty detail rigorously emphasized
II. adjective
Etymology: probably short for chickenhearted or chicken-livered
1. slang : chickenhearted , cowardly
2. slang : insistent on petty or irksome especially military discipline
III. intransitive verb
( chickened ; chickened ; chickening -k(ə)niŋ ; chickens )
slang : to lose one's nerve : show cowardice : desert — often used with out
chickened out on an earlier plan to march into a package store wearing a mask — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
IV. noun
1. : any of various contests in which the participants risk personal safety in order to see which one will give up first
2. : a strategy or conflict that involves high risk or brinkmanship
the game of political chicken has reached the moment of truth — Richard Hoppe