chicken-hearted
See also: chickenhearted
English edit
Etymology edit
From chicken + hearted, after chicken heart. Compare hen-hearted.
Pronunciation edit
Audio (AU) (file)
Adjective edit
chicken-hearted (comparative more chicken-hearted, superlative most chicken-hearted)
- Not brave; lacking courage; cowardly. [from 17th c.]
- 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
- This chicken-hearted couple, by the light of a rush-candle that burned on the hearth, seeing a stranger burst into the chamber, in such a terrible attitude, were seized with consternation […] .
Translations edit
lacking courage