Doodle

In Appalachian and Southern farm speech, "doodle" means a baby chicken - a regional term once common in barnyards and older mountain families.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Animals #OldTimers #Southern

synonyms: chick, baby chicken, peep, biddy

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Granny always said doodles instead of "chicks." I still use it myself, mostly ’cause it feels like home.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Granny always said doodles instead of "chicks." I still use it myself, mostly ’cause it feels like home.

Pronunciation

[DOO-d’l]
/ˈduː.dəl/

Meaning & Usage

- Baby chicken; chick (noun)

Mae:

Best get them doodles gathered up ‘fore sundown.

Earl:

If not, they’ll end up under the porch again.

variations: doodles

★ If you hear an older Appalachian farmer say "doodles," they’re talkin’ about young chicks - not drawings and not a nickname. ★

Origin and Etymology

The farm use of "doodle" for a chick comes from older Appalachian speech, likely influenced by playful or diminutive forms in Scots-Irish and British English. While "doodle" had broader meanings in English, mountain communities applied it specifically to baby chickens in everyday barnyard talk during the 1800s and early 1900s.

Usage Notes

"Doodle" in this sense is heard mainly among older generations or in traditional farm families across Appalachia and parts of the rural South. Younger speakers often default to "chick," but "doodle" remains a recognizable and culturally rooted term in mountain dialect.

Strongly tied to older Appalachian farm life
Distinct from the national meaning "a drawing"
Still understood in rural communities even if rarely spoken

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Does "doodle" always mean a chick?

In Appalachian farm talk, yes. Outside the region it usually means a simple drawing or scribble.

Is this still in use today?

It’s rare, but older speakers and farm families may still say it.

Is "doodlebug" related?

Not directly - "doodlebug" usually refers to an antlion larva or a child’s nickname, not a chick.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 15). Doodle. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/doodle
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Doodle." HillbillySlang.com, 15 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/doodle.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Doodle." HillbillySlang.com. November 15, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/doodle.