or chicken-hearted, adj. (old: now recognised).—Timorous; cowardly.

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  d. 1529.  SKELTON, Why Come Ye not to Courte.

        They kepe them in their holdes
Lyke HEN-HEARTED cuckoldes.

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  1505–56.  UDALL, James I. He is reconed a lowte and a HENNE-HEARTED rascall.

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  1639–61.  Rump Songs, i. [1661], 319. Let the HEN-HEARTED Cit, Drink Whey.

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  1748.  T. DYCHE, A New General English Dictionary (5 ed.). HEN-HEARTED, of a cowardly, fearful, or timorous disposition.

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  1754.  B. MARTIN, English Dictionary (2nd ed.), s.v. ‘Poltron.’ A coward, or HEN-HEARTED fellow.

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  1762.  FOOTE, The Liar, iii., 2. Young Wild. Why, what a dastardly, HEN-HEARTED—— But come, Papillion, this shall be your last campaign.

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  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

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  1812.  JOHNSON, English Dictionary, s.v. HEN-HEARTED … a low word.

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  1815.  SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. Are you turned HEN-HEARTED, Jack!

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