Obs. [OE. cicena mete chickens meat.] Food for chickens. Hence, an old name for various plants, including endive; now dial. for CHICKWEED.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 312. Nim cicena mete.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 136. Modera, cicenamete.
c. 1265. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 558. Intiba, muruns, chicnemete.
a. 1387. Sinon. Barthol. (Anecd. Oxon.), 25. Ippia minor, chikenmete.
a. 1450. Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.), 119. Morsus galline, chikemete.
a. 1500. Nominale, in Wr.-Wülcker, 712. Hec ipia, chekynmette.
1830. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Chickens-meat, the herb chick-weed.