chicken-heartedadj.
/ˌtʃɪk(ᵻ)nˈhɑːtᵻd/, U.S. /ˌtʃɪkənˈhɑrdəd/ Cowardly, faint-hearted. Cf. hen-hearted adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [adjective]
arghc885
heartlessOE
bloodlessc1225
coward1297
faintc1300
nesha1382
comfortless1387
pusillanimousa1425
faint-heartedc1440
unheartyc1440
cowardous1480
hen-hearteda1529
cowardish1530
feigningc1540
white-livered1546
cowardly1551
faceless1567
pusillanime1570
liver-hearted1571
cowish1579
cowardise1582
coward-like1587
faint-heart1590
courageless1593
sheep-like1596
white-hearted1598
milky1602
milk-livered1608
undaring1611
lily-livereda1616
yarrow1616
flightful1626
chicken-hearted1629
poltroon1649
cow-hearted1660
whey-blooded1675
unbravea1681
nimble-heeled1719
dunghill1775
shrimp-hearted1796
chicken-livered1804
white-feathered1816
pluckless1821
chicken-spirited1822
milk-blooded1822
cowardy1836
yellow1856
yellow-livered1857
putty-hearted1872
uncourageous1878
chicken1883
piker1901
yellow-bellied1907
manso1932
scaredy-cat1933
chickenshit1940
cold-footed1944
1629 G. Chapman tr. Funerall Oration in Iustification Nero 6 As red hayre on a man is a signe of trechery, what tis in a woman, let the sweet musique of rime inspire vs; a soft hayre chicken-hearted; a harsh hayre churlish natur'd; a flaxen hayre foolish brain'd.
1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar Prol. sig. Av Where 'tis agreed by Bullies, chicken-hearted, To fright the Ladies first, and then be parted.
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. 133 He was himself so Chickin-hearted a Man. View more context for this quotation
1883 R. L. Stevenson Treasure Island i. iv. 30 Small thanks to you big, hulking, chicken-hearted men.
2018 Nigerian Tribune (Nexis) 17 July It is not a job for the lily-livered and chicken-hearted ones, who are without blueprint.
Derivatives
chicken-ˈheartedness n. cowardice, faint-heartedness.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [noun]
arghtha1250
arghshipc1275
faintise1297
cowardicec1300
cowardshipc1330
arghness1340
arghhoodc1350
sheepnessc1380
pusillanimitya1393
cowardnessa1400
neshnessa1400
cowardyc1405
lithernessc1425
lashness1477
cowardrya1547
meagreness?1553
cowardliness1556
micropsychy1651
buzzardism1659
stanielry1659
manlessness1667
cow-heartedness1718
pusillanimousness1727
chicken-heartedness1808
infortitude1813
plucklessness1824
white-featherism1843
cold feet1893
yellow1893
liver-heartedness1897
yellowness1909
1808 J. N. Barker Indian Princess ii. ii. 32 You were always railing out on me for chicken-heartedness. I came to show ye I had valour.
1904 G. Morgan Issue ix. 82 Chicken-heartedness won't do either in business or politics.
2006 M. Berry Heart of Fire i. 32 ‘Is there..something that you haven't told me about?’.. ‘No, of course not,’ he said, cursing himself for his chicken-heartedness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1629