chicken-fighters

plural noun

variants or less commonly chicken-fights
: the flowers of several violets (as Viola cucullata) one petal of which is spurred

Word History

Etymology

so called from a children's game in which each of two participants tries to decapitate the other's flower by pulling on the stem of his or her own, one spurred petal (likened to a cock's spur) of which is interlocked with that of the adversary's flower

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Dictionary Entries Near chicken-fighters

Cite this Entry

“Chicken-fighters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chicken-fighters. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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