On the recently-ended Fox series Married with Children, the series downbeaten hero Al Bundy kept on referring to his unattractive neighbor and nemesis Marcy D’Arcy as a “chicken”.
What does the word “chicken” mean when used as an insulting remark to a female? This isn’t a joke, I honestly don’t know.
Scaredy-Cat. Unreasonably afraid. Scared to do something easy.
A running joke on the show was Marcy’s lack of much of development in the chest region so I would assume it referred to that. However, Al also questioned the quality of Marcy’s legs on occasion. So, it might also refer to that.
The only use of the term I know means that you are cowardly. This is used for both genders and you probably already knew that and were looking for something else!!
“Chicken” is a term used by pedophiles when referring to young boys. As in, “fresh meat”. (Pedos who go cruising for boys are aptly known as “chickenhawks”.)
Since Marcy’s physique resembled that of a boy, or at least was “tomboyish”, maybe that was part of the joke?
Recently ended?! What country do you live in that the show was “recently ended”? Been dead for years here…
“Chicken” can also be a compliment (not a very highbrow one, mind you), as in- “Ooh, look at that fiiine piece of chicken over there”- when referring to a woman.
Wouldn’t that make you a jive turkey?
To follow up on TV time’s comment, “Chicken legs” is sometimes used as a disparaging reference to a woman’s skinny, unshapely nether limbs.
Cat Fight, I’ve never heard the term “chicken” as a compliment in reference to a woman. Maybe you’re confusing “chicken” with “chick”.
I’ve heard “chickenhead” as an insult to females though. It’s the female version of a “scrub”
From reading the autobios of Groucho and Harpo Marx it seems that “Chicken” was a common term for girls and women, especially in the context of guys pursuing them. Maybe the guys thought of themselves as foxes, as in the chicken coop.
I have hopes that Jim B. will return and post a follow-up. Maybe some more info on how the term was used exactly.
javaman My Lighter on slang offers that the term “chicken” in ref. to a young girl was extremely common in the 1905-1930 period, exactly the period that would have influenced the Marx Bros.
I think Al Bundy calls Marcy this just because he thinks of her as always “clucking,” or saying stuff he doesn’t want to hear. Pretty much the same meaning you’ll find in the hip-hop use of the word.
UNBELIEVABLE!
IANCA but COME ON! Al called Marcy chicken because
Have you SEEN a chicken? The drumstick, often referred to as the leg, is not THE leg. The legs on a chicken, and most birds for that matter are very skinny and have very little muscle or meat on them. The correct answer is “Because she has skinny legs!”
As for the rest of you, Thanks for playing!
-Sandwriter putting on his asbestos gloves