chick

chick
chick mid-14c., shortening of CHICKEN (Cf. chicken) (q.v.), extended to human offspring (often in alliterative pairing chick and child) and used as a term of endearment. As slang for "young woman" it is first recorded 1927 (in "Elmer Gantry"), supposedly from U.S. black slang, in British use by c.1940, popularized by Beatniks late 1950s. Chicken in this sense is from 1711. Sometimes c.1600-1900 chicken was taken as a plural, chick as a singular (Cf. child/children) for the domestic fowl.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Chick — may refer to: A bird that has not yet reached the adult stage, especially: a young chicken A day old cockerel in falconry Woman (slang) Chick, a clothing line by Nicky Hilton People: Chick Young (born 1951), a Scottish football journalist Chick… …   Wikipedia

  • Chick — bezeichnet eine Wirtschaftswissenschaftlerin, siehe Victoria Chick einen christlichen US Verlag mit evangelikaler Prägung, siehe Chick Publications ein Kontaktmagazin der Video Art Holland in der Jugendsprache ein Mädchen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Chick — (ch[i^]k), v. i. [OE. chykkyn, chyke, chicken.] To sprout, as seed in the ground; to vegetate. Chalmers. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Chick — Chick, n. 1. A chicken. [1913 Webster] 2. A child or young person; a term of endearment. Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. a young woman; often considered offensive. [slang] [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chick — [tʃık] n ↑nest [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: chicken] 1.) a baby bird ▪ a mother hen with her chicks 2.) informal a word meaning a young woman, that some people think is offensive …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • chick — [ tʃık ] noun count 1. ) INFORMAL a woman. This word is usually considered offensive. 2. ) a baby bird …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • chick — ► NOUN 1) a young bird, especially one newly hatched. 2) informal a young woman. ORIGIN abbreviation of CHICKEN(Cf. ↑chicken) …   English terms dictionary

  • chick — [chik] n. [ME chike, var. of chiken, CHICKEN] 1. a young chicken 2. any young bird 3. Now Rare a child: term of endearment ☆ 4. Slang a young woman …   English World dictionary

  • chick|ee — «CHIHK ee», noun. a Seminole Indian dwelling, consisting of a palm thatched hut with open sides standing on a platform raised about three feet from the ground. ╂[< the Muskhogean name] …   Useful english dictionary

  • chick — al·lo·co·chick; chick·a·bid·dy; chick·a·dee; chick·a·mau·ga; chick·a·ree; chick·a·saw; chick; chick·ell; chick·ery; chick·ling; dop·chick; el·la·chick; hol·lus·chick; boy·chick; chick·en; chick·en·shit; chick·o·ry; …   English syllables

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