chicken lobster: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist / Culinary)Culinary, Informal, Regional (North American)
Quick answer
What does “chicken lobster” mean?
A small-sized lobster, typically under one pound in weight, often referring to a juvenile or particular species of Atlantic lobster.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small-sized lobster, typically under one pound in weight, often referring to a juvenile or particular species of Atlantic lobster.
A menu term in North American seafood restaurants for a specific, smaller portion of lobster, often sold at a lower price point; sometimes used to describe the meat from such lobsters, which can be considered sweeter and more tender.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American (particularly New England and Canadian Maritime) culinary usage. In British English, one would simply specify the weight (e.g., 'a half-pound lobster') or use terms like 'small lobster'; 'chicken lobster' is not standard.
Connotations
In American usage, it connotes an affordable, single-serving portion. No significant connotations in UK English as the term is not used.
Frequency
Common in seafood restaurants and markets in the northeastern US and eastern Canada. Very rare to non-existent in UK contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “chicken lobster” in a Sentence
The restaurant [serves/offers] chicken lobster.We [ordered/had] chicken lobster.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chicken lobster” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- We offer a chicken-lobster bake on Fridays.
- He prefers the chicken-lobster size for a quick meal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used on menus and in pricing sheets in the seafood industry.
Academic
Rare; might appear in culinary or fisheries management texts.
Everyday
Used when ordering at a seafood shack or restaurant in relevant regions.
Technical
Not a standard biological term; used in commercial fishing and culinary contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chicken lobster”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chicken lobster”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chicken lobster”
- Using it to describe a lobster cooked with chicken (a 'chicken and lobster' dish).
- Assuming it is a UK term.
- Capitalizing it as a proper name (not standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not. 'Chicken' here only describes its small size, similar to how 'chicken' can describe small things (e.g., chicken egg). It is a regular lobster, just smaller.
It is not a standard term in the UK and would likely cause confusion. It's better to say 'a small lobster' or specify the weight.
Typically around 1 pound (approx. 450 grams) or slightly under, though exact definitions can vary by vendor.
Many people find the meat from smaller, younger lobsters to be slightly more tender and sweet, though it contains less total meat than a larger lobster.
A small-sized lobster, typically under one pound in weight, often referring to a juvenile or particular species of Atlantic lobster.
Chicken lobster is usually culinary, informal, regional (north american) in register.
Chicken lobster: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʧɪkɪn ˈlɒbstə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʧɪkɪn ˈlɑːbstɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'chicken' as describing its size—like a chicken portion—not its species. It's a lobster that's small enough to be a personal meal, like a chicken breast.
Conceptual Metaphor
SIZE IS VALUE (A smaller size is metaphorically labelled with a name of a smaller, common protein source to manage price expectations).
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you most likely to encounter the term 'chicken lobster'?