CHICKEN-LIVERED

PRONUNCIATION: (CHIK-en-LIV-uhrd)

MEANING: adjective: Cowardly; easily frightened.

ETYMOLOGY: The word chicken has traditionally been used to describe a coward. Also, earlier people believed that the liver was the seat of courage. But chicken-livered or chicken-hearted, it’s all the same. Earliest documented use: 1616.

NOTES: The English language hasn’t been very kind to the domestic fowl. Some similar terms are chicken hawk and Chicken Little. Also see lily-livered and white-livered.
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CHICKEN-LIVERIED - 1. dressed chicken, suitable for serving on formal occasions
2. dressed chicken, suitable for serving on formal occasions

THICKEN-LIVERED - hepatic cirrhosis

CHICKEN-LOVERED - the betrothed of Miles Standish (just ask John Alden)