chick
UK[tʃɪk]US[tʃɪk]
n
A young bird, especially a young chicken.
n
(informal) A young woman.
Etymology
The word 'chick' is a classic example of a natural linguistic shortening for ease of speech. It originated as a Middle English variant of 'chicken', which derives from the Old English 'cicen'. This Old English term is believed to be of Germanic origin, possibly imitative of the sound a young bird makes. The informal, and now often dated or offensive, application to a young woman is a metaphorical extension from the 14th century, drawing a parallel between youth and perceived vulnerability or attractiveness.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It is a shortening of the earlier English word 'chicken', which itself comes from Old English 'cicen', 'cycen' (young fowl).
Examples
The hen carefully protected her newly hatched chicks.
We could hear the soft cheeping of the chicks in the coop.
(Dated/Offensive) The slang term was used in old movies to refer to a young woman.