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Welcome to another mini-cast from Away with Words. I'm Martha Barnett. This week we received an email from Randy in San Diego.

Randy writes,

I recently got myself three hens for the backyard as a hobby I thought my kids would enjoy.

During the months we've had these chickens around, I've had an opportunity

to closely observe their behavior. This has me wondering about all the expressions and

words we have in the U.S. related to chickens. Randy, great topic.

For starters, how about this?

Back in the days when most folks raise their own chickens,

everybody knew that putting a fake egg in a chicken's nest would encourage her to lay more eggs.

This fake egg was made of wood or ceramic and it was called a nest egg.

Over time, nest egg.

acquired the figurative meaning of a reserve of cash set aside.

Like those fake eggs that help get a chicken in the mood,

...