Definition

Noun: 1. A specific cut of poultry meat: The term primarily refers to the meat from the pectoral muscle of a chicken. This cut is known for being lean, boneless (when prepared as a fillet), and skinless. 2. A medical condition (dated/technical): An abnormal, forward protrusion of the breastbone, historically associated with nutritional deficiencies like rickets. This usage is now rare in everyday language.

Usage

• As a food item: This is the overwhelmingly common use. It refers to the raw or cooked meat.
  • For dinner, we are having grilled chicken breast with vegetables.
  • The recipe calls for two boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
• As a medical term: This is a specialized, historical usage.
  • (In a medical text) The child's malnutrition led to a deformity known as chicken breast.

Advanced Usage

• "Chicken breast" vs. "Chicken chest": In culinary contexts, "breast" is exclusively used. "Chest" is not used to describe this cut of meat.
• Preparation Styles: The term is often modified by preparation style:

Variants and Related Words

• Chicken fillet: Often used interchangeably with "boneless, skinless chicken breast."
• Poultry breast: A more general term that can include turkey or duck breast.
• Pectus carinatum: The modern medical term for the condition historically called "chicken breast."

Synonyms

• (For the food) White meat (of chicken), chicken fillet.
• (For the condition) Pectus carinatum, pigeon chest (a similar deformity).

Antonyms

• (For the food) Chicken thigh, dark meat.
• (For the condition) Pectus excavatum (funnel chest).

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Chicken breast cutlets: Chicken breasts that have been pounded thin.
• Stuffed chicken breast: A chicken breast with a filling cooked inside.

Noun

1. abnormal protrusion of the breastbone caused by rickets