chicken switch

[ chik-uhn swich ]

noun

, Rocketry Slang.

1. a device by which an astronaut may eject the capsule in which they ride, in the event that a rocket malfunctions.
2. egads button.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chicken switch¹

First recorded in 1955–60; chicken ( def ) (in the sense “fearful person”) + switch ( def )

Example Sentences

There was a “chicken switch” in the testing chamber for the candidates to flip if they wanted to come out early; a couple of the women took advantage of it.

From Literature

All systems were go until North Carolina Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers went to the press just about a week ago to announce she was reaching for the chicken switch and pulling hard.

From US News