Noun

1. a mesh of wire, usually galvanized, with a hexagonal pattern, generally used for making fences, especially for enclosures for small farm animals and pets.
   • Kenneth Robeson, The Screaming Man

     "You'll recall that normally any old hen had sense enough not to run or fly into a chicken wire fence, but the same old hen at the sight of a hawk would lose all judgment about fences, and plunge headlong into it."

2. a type of such material, differentiated by material, coating, wire thickness, width, and mesh size.