squab-chick

A squab-chick pecks at seeds on the ground.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A young bird, especially one that has not yet left the nest or is still dependent on its parents for care. This term is often used for pigeons or doves, but can refer to any bird in its early, featherless stage.

Usage Examples

• (A young pigeon that was not yet able to fly.)
• (A very young bird still requiring parental care.)

Advanced Usage

• "squab-chick" as a metaphor: The term can be used figuratively to describe a very young, inexperienced, or helpless person, especially in a context of dependency.
  • The new intern is a squab-chick in the corporate world; she needs constant guidance. (A novice who is completely dependent on others.)

Variants and Related Words

• Squab (n): A young pigeon or dove, especially one that is ready for eating. This is a more common term for the bird itself, while "squab-chick" emphasizes its youth and helplessness.

  • The restaurant served roasted squab as a delicacy. (A young pigeon prepared as food.)

• Chick (n): A young bird, especially a newly hatched one. "Squab-chick" combines "squab" (a specific type of young bird) with "chick" to reinforce the idea of extreme youth.

Synonyms

• Nestling: a bird that is too young to leave the nest.
• Fledgling: a young bird that has just acquired its feathers and is learning to fly (slightly older than a squab-chick).
• Baby bird: a general term for any very young bird.

Related Idioms

• To be a squab-chick: To be in a state of complete dependence or inexperience.
  • He was a squab-chick when he first joined the army, unable to do anything without orders. (Completely inexperienced and reliant on others.)