hen-hearted

hen-hearted

A hen-hearted boy hides behind a tree during a school play.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Cowardly or timid: "hen-hearted" describes a person who is excessively fearful, lacking courage or boldness, as if having the heart of a hen (a bird known for being easily frightened).
Usage Examples
  • (He lacked the courage to face the aggressor.)
  • (The timid choice showed a lack of bravery.)
  • (She accused him of being cowardly.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to be hen-hearted": to exhibit a persistent lack of courage.

    • The general was hen-hearted, always avoiding direct battle. (The commander was consistently timid in warfare.)

  • "a hen-hearted approach": a strategy or method that is overly cautious and avoids risk.

    • The company’s hen-hearted approach to innovation led to its decline. (The excessively cautious strategy prevented progress.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Hen-heartedness (noun): the quality or state of being timid or cowardly.

    • His hen-heartedness prevented him from taking any risks. (His cowardice stopped him from being bold.)

  • Lily-livered (adj): a synonym meaning cowardly (literally, having a pale liver, a sign of fear in old physiology).

    • The lily-livered knight fled the battlefield. (The cowardly knight ran away.)

  • Chicken-hearted (adj): a very similar term, also meaning cowardly.

    • Don’t be chicken-hearted; stand up for yourself. (Don’t be afraid; be brave.)
Synonyms
  • Cowardly: lacking courage.
  • Timid: showing a lack of confidence or bravery.
  • Fainthearted: easily discouraged or scared.
  • Pusillanimous: formal term for cowardly.
Antonyms
  • Brave: having or showing courage.
  • Bold: willing to take risks.
  • Valiant: possessing or showing courage or determination.
Related Idioms

  • Have a yellow streak: to be cowardly (often used informally).

    • He has a yellow streak a mile wide. (He is extremely cowardly.)

  • Turn tail: to run away from danger or difficulty.

    • At the first sign of trouble, he turned tail. (He fled immediately.)

  • Lose one’s nerve: to become afraid and fail to act.

    • She lost her nerve before the speech. (She became too scared to speak.)
Historical and Literary Notes
  • The term "hen-hearted" dates back to at least the 16th century, drawing on the stereotype of hens as timid, easily frightened birds. It appears in works by Shakespeare and other Elizabethan writers, often used to insult a man’s masculinity or bravery. For example, in (Act 1, Scene 5), Shakespeare writes: "I will not answer thee with words, but blows; / And here’s a heart that will not be hen-hearted."