ETYM AS. cicen, cyceun, dim. of coc cock; akin to LG. kiken, küken, Dutch Kieken, kuiken, German küchkein. Related to Cock the animal.
1. A foolhardy competition; a dangerous activity that is continued until one competitor becomes afraid and stops.
2. Bred for flesh or eggs; believed to have been developed from the red jungle fowl; SYN. Gallus gallus.
3. The flesh of a chicken used for food; SYN. poulet, volaille.

(Informal) Easily frightened; SYN. chickenhearted, lily-livered, white-livered, yellow, yellow-bellied.

Domestic fowl; see under poultry.

To lose one's nerve — usually used with out