a domestic fowl, Gallus domesticus, descended from various jungle fowl of southeastern Asia and developed in a number of breeds for its flesh, eggs, and feathers.

the young of this bird, esp. when less than a year old.

the flesh of the chicken, esp. of the young bird, used as food.

Informal . a young or inexperienced person, esp. a young girl.

Slang .

a cowardly or fearful person.

petty details or tasks.

unnecessary discipline or regulations.

a young male homosexual, esp. one sought as a sexual partner by older men.

a contest in which two cars approach each other at high speed down the center of a road, the object being to force one's opponent to veer away first.

a policy or strategy of challenging an opponent to risk a clash or yield

diplomats playing chicken at the conference table.

(of food) containing, made from, or having the flavor of chicken

chicken salad; chicken soup.

Slang .

cowardly.

petty or trivial

a chicken regulation.

obsessed with petty details, regulations, etc.

He's quitting this chicken outfit to become his own boss.

chicken out, Slang .

to refrain from doing something because of fear or cowardice

I chickened out when I saw how deep the water was.

to renege or withdraw

You can't chicken out of this business deal now.

count one's chickens before they are hatched

to rely on a benefit that is still uncertain

They were already spending in anticipation of their inheritance, counting their chickens before they were hatched.

noun

coward , craven , dastard , funk , poltroon , quitter , recreant , scaredy cat , yellow belly , banty , barnyard fowl , biddy , capon , chick , cock , cock-a-doodle-do , cockalorum , cockerel , gump , heeler , hen , poultry , pullet , rooster , afraid , broiler , brood , chicky , fowl , fryer , gutless , pl.poultry , poult , sissy , timid , yellow

adjective

chickenhearted , craven , dastardly , faint-hearted , lily-livered , pusillanimous , unmanly