chicken switch

[chik-uhn swich]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Rocketry Slang.

a device by which an astronaut may eject the capsule in which they ride, in the event that a rocket malfunctions.
egads button.

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of chicken switch¹

First recorded in 1955–60; chicken ( def. ) (in the sense “fearful person”) + switch ( def. )

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There was a “chicken switch” in the testing chamber for the candidates to flip if they wanted to come out early; a couple of the women took advantage of it.

From

All systems were go until North Carolina Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers went to the press just about a week ago to announce she was reaching for the chicken switch and pulling hard.

From

chicken snake chicken tetrazzini

Browse