chick

Chick refers to a young bird, especially the immature stages of a chicken. It most commonly denotes a newborn or very young bird that has recently hatched. In poultry farming, chicks are raised from hatchlings through early rearing stages to reach a juvenile size suitable for further growth.

Biology and development: Birds hatch from eggs after incubation. Hatchlings can be altricial (born featherless and dependent) or precocial (able to move and feed themselves soon after hatching). In chickens, a young animal is typically called a chick; as it grows, a female juvenile becomes a pullet and a male juvenile a cockerel. The term chick can also refer to the species’ young collectively, rather than a single individual.

Etymology and usage: The word chick originated as a diminutive form related to chicken in English, with usage dating back several centuries. In addition to its biological meaning, chick is widely used as informal slang for a young woman; this usage varies in acceptability and can be considered objectifying in formal contexts. The term also appears in idiomatic expressions and everyday speech.

Other uses: Chick appears in various proper names, nicknames, and popular culture references. It may also denote chickens in different breeds and contexts, including farm birds and pet birds.