Chickenshit, in addition to being a
term used to describe a
coward, is a
military term used to describe
drilling and methods that were deemed to be unnecessary by the
soldiers. Fines for such minor things as not shaving, wearing unpolished boots, or not properly making one’s bed all fell under the category of chickenshit. Though most
officers would let such indiscretions slide, others tend to enforce even the slightest of offenses.
General George S. Patton was said to be notorious for chickenshit drilling, earning him the nickname “Gorgeous Georgie,” since he expected his troops to look the best in the entire US Army. Though many of the soldiers resented it, Patton defended his actions by saying that if soldiers couldn’t carry out the smallest orders to the letter, then they couldn’t be expected to carry out the more necessary ones.