I once caught a PBS special years ago explaining that the term “drumstick” for a chicken leg was so deemed because it was not proper to say “leg” especially in mixed company. I believe this stemmed from the Victorian Era. And, this was apparently the same reason why often table legs are hidden or covered. Anyhow, if this IS true, then why is there no alternate word for a chicken breast? Wouldn’t that have been equally embarrasing?
By the way, what part of the chicken is the finger? 
I believe the euphenism for “chicken breast” is “white meat”. As in “I’ll have some of that white meat, please”
‘Parson’s nose’ = tail.
I’m pretty sure this factiod is bogus.
The consensus on the board was that the idea that the Victorians covered table legs out of prudery was a myth: see my thread. Therefore I would doubt that the reason for the term “drumstick” was prudery: it seems more likely due to the entertainingly quirkiness of the name.
Perhaps someone with way too much time on their hands could do a search of Victorian novels to see how they asked for chicken
Also, was chicken much eaten in Victorian times? I have a feeling its popularity as a meat dates back less than 50 years; certainly when my parents were young they rarely ate it.
White meat/Dark meat seems to be a Yanky thing anyway.
My (limited) research for an upcoming Victorian theme weekend at the end of this month suggests that chickens were kept extensively for eggs, but for most ordinary people, slaughtering one for the table while in its egg-laying prime would have been rather extravagant, so when they were older, they would be eaten, but served as chunks of meat in a long-cooked pie or stew.
Cockerels, on the other hand, there would be something of a surplus of and these could be slaughtered for the table while still young and tender enough to be roasted.
Please do not forget the genuine euphemism (in England at least) for the chicken’s butthole:
The parson’s nose.
I am 36 (eek I hate admitting that) and have eaten chicken many many many times…in many many many places. have NEVER been offered light or dark meat. I do love the Parsons nose though.
The Parson’s Nose is the tail, not the butthole. Although this is quite close.
Chickens have tails? Next thing you’ll be telling me is that they can fly, too.
Well OK. Though it incorporates the butthole (though usually it’s eviscerated).
The Parsons nose is yummmmmmmmmmy though.
(ewwww I like chicken bum)