type of hawk that is believed to prey on domestic fowl, 1802, American English. Figuratively, from the secondary senses of both words, "public person who advocates war but declined significant opportunity to serve in uniform during wartime," at least 1988, American English. From chicken (n.) + hawk (n.).
chick
chickadee
chickaree
Chickasaw
chicken
chicken hawk
chicken pox
chicken-shit
chickpea
chickweed
chicle