chicken
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
A coward.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
'Why, what a chicken you are! You are not afraid of being robbed; are you?' said Jonas.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “chicken” mean?
A coward.
Is “chicken” formal or informal?
chicken is generally derogatory, slang.