Why they all it chicken pox

Matmail: Having been recently subjected to the virus that causes chicken pox, I was struck by the thought, I have no idea why it is called CP. Where do chickens figure into this heinous disease? What’s the deal, Matt? — Pox-boy, @ucsd.edu

The deal? No deal. Only guesses. Sorry, after all your scratching and wondering. 1. The most frequently offered explanation, despite the fact that it sucks: The disease, being much milder than smallpox, is “chicken” in the sense of “chicken-hearted.” 2. Two sometimes-heard explanations, only slightly less ridiculous: Your skin looks like that of a plucked chicken; the blisters look like chickpeas. 3. The most reasonable sometimes-heard explanation: People once believed the disease came from chickens. I tell you, those word-origin guys get away with murder. What a racket.