chickens

Noun

chicken (countable and uncountable, plural chickens)

1. (countable) A domesticated subspecies of red junglefowl (Gallus gallus domesticus).
   • backyard chickens
2. (uncountable) The meat from this bird eaten as food.
   • boneless chicken
3. (obsolete) The young of any bird; a chick.
   • There they are – four ugly little chickens, a bit more than half-feathered, and all gaping mouths and bare bellies.1934, Henry G. Lamond, An Aviary on the Plains, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 220
4. (countable, derogatory, slang, sometimes) A coward.
   • 'Why, what a chicken you are! You are not afraid of being robbed; are you?' said Jonas.1842 December – 1844 July, Charles Dickens, chapter 28, in The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1844, →OCLC

   Synonyms:

   pullet, bottler, caitiff, candy-ass, candy-arse, coistril, coward, chicken liver, chickenshit, cocktail

5. (countable, derogatory, slang, sometimes) A young or inexperienced person.
   • Purſue your trade of ſcandal-picking,
     Your hints, that Stella is no chicken:
     Your innuendos, when you tell us,
     That Stella loves to talk with fellows; […]1752, Jonathan Swift, “Stella's Birth-day, 1720”, in The Works of D. Jonathan Swift. In Nine Volumes. The Seventh Edition, to which is Prefixed, the Doctor's Life, with Remarks on His Writings, from...

   Synonyms:

   spring chicken

6. (Polari, countable) A young, attractive, slim man, usually having little body hair; compare chickenhawk.
   • Europe's Favorite Gay Newspaper has something for you! Handsome studs, Tender Chicken, and lots of Male Nudes!1976 April 10, “Classified advertisement”, in Gay Community News, page 19

   Synonyms:

   twink

See all 14 meanings of chicken