chicken-livered

[ chik-uhn-liv-erd ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. timid; fearful; cowardly.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chicken-livered¹

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

And no matter how you frame it, there will be cowardly chicken-livered liberals, who are like, ahhhh-gahhhh.

From Slate

Yet the film is dismissed as "pernicious garbage" by online critic Glenn Kenny, who accuses it of being self-important and "chicken-livered".

From BBC

Our writer, who calls himself “chicken-livered,” examines the reasons behind the thrill of confronting fear.

From New York Times

Chicken-livered from the start, I have always dreaded this time of year.

From New York Times

Rainie said, “He’s chicken-livered, that’s what it is.”

From Literature