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"No spring chicken" originated in the early 1700s, based on the literal farming practice of selling young, tender chickens hatched in spring for higher prices. Older birds that survived the winter were less valuable, prompting buyers to declare tough, mature chickens as "no spring chicken," a phrase that gained popularity in the 1800s for someone past their youth.

Key Aspects of the Origin:

• Literal Meaning: In the 18th/19th century, chickens born in spring were fresh, young, and tender, making them a premium commodity.
• The Contrast: Older birds were tough and not ideal for quick cooking, making them less desirable.
• First Recorded Usage: While the concept existed in the 1700s, the phrase was used in a similar fashion by Jonathan Swift in 1720 ("...hints that Stella is no chicken") and in its common modern, literal usage by the early 20th century.
• Usage Today: It is a polite or humorous idiom indicating someone is no longer young or in their prime