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

Or are you afraid—afraid even yet, oh, very chicken-livered lover—that behind the beauty of Naples you may find the filth?

From Project Gutenberg

He thinks me a chicken-livered old coward and I know much more about him than I knew before; and we are at peace.

From Project Gutenberg

I went, and this is what he says: 'The fool that defended me is a chicken-livered son of a—and all the rest of it,' he says.

From Project Gutenberg

A weak-kneed, chicken-livered, white-bellied old bullfrog that squeaks and jumps, plunk!

From Project Gutenberg

Come back here, you couple of chicken-livered cowards, and I'll thrash the two of ye!

From Project Gutenberg