Chicken!

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Let's talk about chicken. Not the bird per se, or chicken as food, but the word. Coz it fascinates me.

MarkH (MarkH), Friday, 29 August 2003 07:46 (twenty-two years ago)

for instance, it used to refer to the young of the fowl, yet now it refers to the adult and the young is just chick. There are several pubs called the Hen & Chickens, including a theatre pub in Bristol.

MarkH (MarkH), Friday, 29 August 2003 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow. What did Chickens used to be called before they got called chicken? And presuming Egg has a longer history, does this end the debate?

Dave B (daveb), Friday, 29 August 2003 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

somehow the phrase "kentucky fried hen" sounds even less appealing than the original. bleugh it makes me think of biting in and getting a mouthful of feathers

j0e (j0e), Friday, 29 August 2003 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

TS: KFC vs Popeye's vs Lee's Famous Recipe

FITE!

Dale the Titled (cprek), Friday, 29 August 2003 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Kentucky Fried Chcik is less appealing, but I'd still eat it, if only for the shock value.

Dave B (daveb), Friday, 29 August 2003 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh dear. My girlfriend is having eating problems at the moment. She is also a newly convertedish meat eater after years of vegetarianism UGH UGH. Therefore one day she decided she wanted to know what all my "fried chicken" fuzz was about.

NO NO YOU DO NOT

I said.

IT IS UNCLEAN!

Now it is one of the only things she can eat the whole way through. I feel like I have corrupted and perverted a life. With chicken. So far we have only been to KFC's but I am sure that Dallas/Dixie/Favorite or even MORLEYS CHICKEN AND RIBS will not soon be far off.

KFC = god of chicken, straddling all other chickens
WHite and blue chicken places = dallas/favorite/southern etc second best
Red chicken = MOrleys, next best
Places called 'Chicken Cottage' = eeeeeugh.

Don't even bother from chicken from undedicated chicken places. Pizza shop chicken = DUD and as for fish and chip shop chicken WELL I am against that from the word KABOOM!

Sarah (starry), Friday, 29 August 2003 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

chickens make lousy housepets.

Emilymv (Emilymv), Friday, 29 August 2003 14:33 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.soulmusic.com/rufusT.jpg

Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 29 August 2003 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Sainsbury's does totally awesome lazy-person's microwave in 2mins chicken which has saved my life on many an occasion.

Also, I had a friend waxing enthusiastic to me about the virtues of Nandos today. I have never been. Should I go?

Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 29 August 2003 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm always put off nandos by of the seagulls invariably swooping over the bins outside

j0e (j0e), Friday, 29 August 2003 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)

and what about the word chicken to mean "Coward!"? Did this come about because chickens were considered cowardly (in comparison with other birds, or other animals if we take animals to include birds)? I suspect the word had that meaning in the US and only later became used in this sense in the UK, as I remember my parents being unaware of it when I used it in this sense as a child. And what about "chickenshit"? Is this a later version, based on the fact that ppl and animals that are scared shit themselves, or was chicken in the 'scared' sense always a contraction of chickenshit the way bull is of bullshit?

MarkH (MarkH), Monday, 1 September 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

The OED says:

chicken

1.

a. The young of the domestic fowl; its flesh.

[obsolete sense]

b. Extended to the young of any bird. Obs.

c. chicken sometimes occurs as a plural or collective. Still dial., with chick as the singular.

d. A domestic fowl of any age.

e. The prairie chicken or pinnated grouse; also, the sharp-tailed grouse. U.S.

2. transf. of human offspring: A child.

3. fig.

a. A youthful person: one young and inexperienced. (to be) no chicken: no longer young. Also as a slang (chiefly U.S.) term for a girl or young woman. Cf. chick sb.1 3 b.

b. Applied to one who is as timorous or defenceless as a chicken. Revived in mod. slang (orig. U.S.), often as quasi-adj.: cowardly. Hence (to play) chicken, (to engage in) a `game' of physical hazard which tests the courage. Cf. chicken-hearted.

* 1611 Shaks. Cymb. v. iii. 42 Forthwith they flye Chickens, the way which they stopt [Globe ed. stoop'd] Eagles.

* 1633 T. Stafford Pac. Hib. xix. (1821) 199 Not finding the Defendants to be Chikins, to be afraid of every cloud or kite.

* 1707 Farquhar Beaux' Strat. iv. iii. 54 Gib. You assure me that Scrub is a Coward. Bou. A Chicken, as the saying is.

* 1936 Amer. Speech XI. 279/2 Chicken, a timid soul; a sissy.

* 1941 Life 15 Dec. 89 Gets chicken.

* 1945 Amer. Speech XX. 147/2 A person is `chicken' when he abides too closely by army rules and regulations, or when he misuses or abuses authority, especially in minor or petty matters.

* 1952 S. Ellin Key to Nicholas St. (1953) iv. ii. 167 You'd just holler for the cops? Why, man, you're chicken.

* 1953 R. Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 (1954) i. 33 Go out in the cars..trying to see how close you can get to lamp-posts, playing `chicken'.

* 1956 M. Innes Appleby plays Chicken i. i. 17 Playing chicken..this business of proving to yourself that you're as tough as the other chaps.

* 1956 M. Innes Appleby plays Chicken ii. ii. 18 Chicken is done with cars.

* 1959 Daily Mail 18 May 5/6 Sit on the track as the train thunders nearer... Last to get up is the winner. First is branded `chicken'.

* 1960 E. W. Hildick Jim Starling & Colonel xi. 93 `Speak for yourself-chicken!' he jeered.

* 1960 Swerling & Burrows Guys & Dolls ii. iii. 54 Player. Come on, quit stallin', roll. Harry. What's the matter, Sky, turning chicken?

c. (See quots.)

* 1887 J. D. Billings Hardtack & Coffee 52 A Marblehead man called his chum his `chicken', more especially if the latter was a young soldier.

* 1890 Congress. Rec. 21 Apr. 3637/1 The affection which a sailor will lavish on a ship's boy to whom he takes a fancy, and makes his `chicken', as the phrase is.

4.

Mother Cary's (or Carey's) chicken, a name given by sailors to the Stormy Petrel (Procellaria pelagica): also (in pl.) applied to falling snow.

5. Short for chicken-hazard.

* 1865 Daily Tel. 5 Dec. 3/4 `Don't go; let's have a little chicken'..A `little chicken' does not mean a wing and a little weak white wine and water, but the rattling of certain ivory cubes in a little leather box.


* 1947 C. Willingham End as Man xvi. 192 You're both acting like *chicken-shits. We win a batch of money-you're afraid to take it.

* 1948 N. Mailer Naked & Dead i. i. 7 `What's the matter?' he asked. `You going chickenshit?'

* 1968 Southerly XXVIII. 281 `You're just a pile of compromising chickenshit,' Gillian says in a whisper.

* 1969 C. Himes Blind Man with Pistol xix. 203 She's a slut, just a chickenshit whore.

* 1970 It 12-25 Feb. 17/1 American groups are not so chickenshit about getting into underground work.

Tep (ktepi), Monday, 1 September 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

So it looks like "chicken" grew into "chickenshit," rather than being contracted from it.

(If I had the Dictionary of American Regional English, I could probably find something better. But I don't, and it isn't online.)

Tep (ktepi), Monday, 1 September 2003 16:05 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks Tep!

In "A Little Knowledge: What Archimedes Really Meant" by Michael Macrone, the auhtor claims that "the game of chicken" was coined by Bertrand Russell! In a chapter on game theory, Macrone claims that Russell invented the term to describe a situation where v2 ppl hop on bicycles and speed towards a cliff, the first to stop or change course being the "chicken". if you both stop simulataneously, then no-one's the chicken, but no-one wins the game. So what do you do? (Macrone describes the more familiar Prisoners' Dilemma earlier in the chapter).

MarkH (MarkH), Monday, 1 September 2003 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

why did the chicken cross the road?

was really a chicken or was it a fowl or a chick?

I don't know, why did it cross the road?

RJG (RJG), Monday, 1 September 2003 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

To get to Kenny Rogers?

Ally C (Ally C), Monday, 1 September 2003 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

My favourite album title for the longest time was Martika's Chicken. But I don't suppose that really counts.

Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 1 September 2003 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

If that's the brilliantly subtle joke I think it is, Crudders, my hat is off to you and you can keep it as a souvenir.

Tep (ktepi), Monday, 1 September 2003 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I used to work at Nandos! and I still think it's good food, so that's the ultimate recommendaton eh? but be nice to the cashier cause a vegetarian mild can v. v. quickly be turned into a chicken x. x. x. hot.
trusta me.

Nellie (nellskies), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 09:53 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

Mike Hanle y wrote this on thread I just spoke to an idiot on board I Love Everything on Jul 17, 2001

chicken
g-kit (g-kit) wrote this on thread Word Association game on board I Love Everything on Jan 9, 2003

chicken
Lara (Lara) wrote this on thread This is the thread where Andrew and Lara have a FITE! on board I Love Everything on Jan 29, 2003

Chicken.
ken c (ken c) wrote this on thread Stuff to put on pancakes - S/D on board I Love Everything on Feb 7, 2005

chicken
Millar (Millar) wrote this on thread When Was The Last Time You Threw Up? on board I Love Everything on Jul 26, 2003

Chicken!!
Kingfish (Kingfish) wrote this on thread The all-new-&-improved WHAT ARE YOU THINKING RIGHT THIS INSTANT thread! on board I Love Everything on Aug 14, 2003

chicken!
Eisbär (llamasfur) wrote this on thread This is the connected sentence thread on board I Love Everything on Dec 30, 2003

chicken
El Diablo Robotico (Nicole) wrote this on thread Glasto 2004 is GO!! on board I Love Everything on Jun 17, 2004

No no chicken!
kephm wrote this on thread A Delicate Dilemma on board I Love Everything on Feb 6, 2004

was it the chicken?
C J (C J) wrote this on thread If God made everything, who made God? on board I Love Everything on Jul 23, 2004

Chicken?

the neurotic awakening of s (blueski) wrote this on thread Lottery winner is rapist - Govt sez looking at finding ways to stop him winning it on board I Love Everything on Aug 12, 2004

is that for the chicken?
spontine (cis) wrote this on thread the rolling london dancing thread on board I Love Everything on Sep 7, 2005

chicken.
LeCoq (LeCoq) wrote this on thread Favorite Condiment on board I Love Everything on Apr 14, 2005

chicken
Lucretia My Reflection (Lucretia My Reflection) wrote this on thread Why are Walkers Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar crisps in the wrong packets? on board I Love Everything on May 4, 2005

CHICKEN?!?!?!?
gbx (skowly) wrote this on thread stupid veggie restaurant names: the worst of the worst on board I Love Everything on May 30, 2006

CHICKEN
Konal Doddz (blueski) wrote this on thread World Cup 2006 is HERE! This is the thread for the tournament itself - let the MAYHEM commence! on board I Love Everything on Jun 8, 2006

CHICKEN
Diddumsismus (Dada) wrote this on thread White people ironically using the N Word: C/D? on board I Love Everything on Oct 18, 2006

Chicken!
sexyDancer (sexyDancer) wrote this on thread Who else finds Bob Dylan rather dull? on board I Love Music on Feb 7, 2007

it's chicken.
latebloomer: Veteran of the Mai Tai Massacre (latebloomer) wrote this on thread What's your favorite Nugget? on board I Love Music on Oct 22, 2006

chicken.
Allyzay Rofflesbot (allyzay) wrote this on thread WHOIS: THE JAYMC UNDOES YOUR BRA(H) THRED on board All Noise Dude Summertime Fun Board and Pickle Bar on May 2, 2006

Chicken.

Captain Smash (Captain Smash) wrote this on thread anyone remember the Netto sheep idea? on board The Workshy Allstar Teadrinker's Society of North on Apr 12, 2006

CHICKEN
Ron wrote this on thread how can intelligent humans achieve happiness in a hypermediated and hypersexualised environment which shows every sign of worsening? on board I Love Everything on Jun 23, 2002

chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster chicken toaster
mark s wrote this on thread how can intelligent humans achieve happiness in a hypermediated and hypersexualised environment which shows every sign of worsening? on board I Love Everything on Jun 23, 2002

chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bear chicken bare chicken bare chicken bare chicken bare chicken bare chicken bare chicken bare chicken bare chicken bare chicken bare chicken bare
cybele (cybele) wrote this on thread S&D International Cuisine on board I Love Everything on Jun 12, 2003

Jerk chicken. Jerk chicken. Jerk chicken.
magnus malkovich wrote this on thread Super Furry Animal MOVIES....Art or Prog Rock Wank? on board I Love Music on May 6, 2002

chicken and ham chicken and ham chicken and ham
Mike Hanle y wrote this on thread I have a cold on board I Love Everything on Jul 19, 2001

The chicken pox?
Tadeusz Suchodolski wrote this on thread DArk fantasies on board I Love Everything on Nov 27, 2001

Chicken bear!
mark s wrote this on thread animal para-linguistics on board I Love Everything on Feb 1, 2002

chicken bear
electric sound of jim (electricsound) wrote this on thread ah fuck it, what do you all taste like? on board I Love Everything on Aug 29, 2002

like chicken

Granny Dainger, Wednesday, 10 December 2008 14:35 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

http://i44.tinypic.com/23iihpw.jpg

Carne Meshuggah (libcrypt), Monday, 19 January 2009 08:29 (seventeen years ago)

What the hell is that thing?

Yehudi Menudo (NickB), Monday, 19 January 2009 09:09 (seventeen years ago)

They make chicken nuggets outta that pink pile o glop or what.

big papa cigarettes (╓abies), Monday, 19 January 2009 09:31 (seventeen years ago)

http://www.moviegoods.com/Assets/product_images/1010/380515.1010.A.jpg

warmsherry, Monday, 19 January 2009 09:34 (seventeen years ago)

one year passes...

so chicken's can literally be half male and half female???

Instead, they found the chickens to be almost perfectly split between male and female. The hen half was, for the most part, made up of normal female cells with female chromosomes, whereas the cockerel side contained mostly normal male cells with male chromosomes. Because both sides were exposed to exactly the same hormones, the team realized that the cells must respond according to their own chromosomal complement rather than taking orders from the gonads.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47452000/jpg/_47452649_chickenshalfandhalf.jpg

but actually it is impossible to have a penis on the body of a mermaid (dyao), Friday, 12 March 2010 04:44 (sixteen years ago)

seven months pass...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/business/22chicken.html?_r=1&hp

The Saga of the Unkillable Mr. Poppins (forksclovetofu), Friday, 22 October 2010 05:38 (fifteen years ago)

four years pass...

Ok, so I'm getting back into eating meat after a long time as a vegetarian. I bought a package of chicken breast cutlets late last week - Thursday or Friday or something - but forgot to cook them. They've just been in the fridge in their little plastic - wrapped Styrofoam tray. Are they still good, do you think? Or souls I buy another pack and hope that I remember to cook that one.

fish or click bait (how's life), Wednesday, 22 April 2015 21:16 (ten years ago)

don't cook their souls what's wrong with you

neetsooh ebebay (wins), Wednesday, 22 April 2015 21:35 (ten years ago)

souls 'n' gizzards delish

Premise ridiculous. Who have two potato? (forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 22 April 2015 21:45 (ten years ago)

chicken tends to go foul a bit faster than beef, so I would rinse it off, pat it dry, and give it a thorough-going sniff test before trying to cook it. If you start to cook it and it smells in any way 'off', it's gone bad.

Giant Purple Wakerobin (Aimless), Wednesday, 22 April 2015 22:27 (ten years ago)

I've all but quit eating chicken — so flavorless.

WilliamC, Wednesday, 22 April 2015 23:00 (ten years ago)

two years pass...

fried in a waffle cone

http://gothamist.com/2017/05/31/riis_park_beach_food_2017.php#photo-1

Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 31 May 2017 20:29 (eight years ago)

three years pass...

https://isotropic.org/papers/chicken.pdf

Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Saturday, 11 July 2020 07:39 (five years ago)

Oh good, you’ve discovered that.

sound of scampo talk to me (El Tomboto), Saturday, 11 July 2020 11:44 (five years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL_-1d9OSdk

sound of scampo talk to me (El Tomboto), Saturday, 11 July 2020 11:45 (five years ago)

FOCO

Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Saturday, 11 July 2020 14:59 (five years ago)


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