When we prepare chicken for dinner?

Question

It’s called chicken right? Why isn't prepared beef called cow or prepared pork called pig?

Raina good point, but isn't poultry any type of bird? Like if you ate a goose, isn't that considered poultry too? Or a duck?

Answer 1

When England was ruled during the time of the Crusades, the kings were actually French. French was the language of the court, and English was looked down on as the language of the commoners. The English word for cattle was cow, but the French word was beef, so when the court ate, they referred to it as beef. "Cow" was beneath them, so just the animal was referred to like that. The same with pork and pig.

Answer 2

well, prepared chicken is supposed to be poultry, but we still use chicken. I guess we're lazy?

good question

Answer 3

for some reason it sounds a bit more barbaric to say "we're having cow for dinner" rather then saying "we're having beef for dinner."