Cowardly or timid, like a hen which is perceived as fearful and easily frightened.
Compound of 'hen' and 'hearted,' using 'hen' as a symbol of cowardice (as opposed to 'lion-hearted'). The association of hens with timidity reflects agricultural observations of their nervous behavior.
The whole family of 'coward' words—chicken-hearted, lily-livered, henhearted—shows how societies project animal behavior onto human character, and how women-coded animals (hen, chicken) got linked with cowardice!
Uses 'hen' as symbol of timidity/cowardice, conflating feminine animals with moral weakness. Reflects historical association of femininity with fear and unfitness for leadership.
Avoid; use 'cowardly' or 'timid' instead, which describe behavior without gendered animal metaphor.
["cowardly","timid","fearful","craven"]
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