The story
After the chicken-like flavor of its meat.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
chicken turtle
Today it means: An uncommon freshwater turtle, of species Deirochelys reticularia, found in the southeast of the United States, similar in appearance to the eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta picta), but with an unusually long, striped neck, a yellow stripe on each of its legs and a net-like pattern on its carapace. Full definition →