Cowardly, petty, or contemptibly small and insignificant; unwilling to face difficulty or danger.
A vulgar compound combining 'chicken' (slang for coward) and 'shit' (excrement). American slang that emerged in the early 20th century, expressing contempt through this crude metaphor.
Military slang from WWI and WWII soldiers—they'd call unfair rules or cowardly behavior 'chickenshit' to express anger. It's stayed in popular use because the compound is so memorable and colorful, even though it's quite crude.
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