[Grammar] Which one is correct, two pieces of chicken or two pieces of chicken legs?

[yismini]

I think 'two pieces of chicken legs' is not correct.
Chicken legs already contain the meaning of 'parts of a whole chicken.'
So two chicken legs is correct expression.
What do you think about it?

 

[tedmc]

Both are possible. You can have two pieces of chicken legs, not the whole legs.

not a teacher

 

[emsr2d2]

I find "two pieces of chicken legs" very unnatural. I would probably accept "two pieces of chicken leg" if the pieces of chicken in question were not the entire leg or were reconstituted bits of chicken leg, but if the whole leg is involved then you would just ask for "two chicken legs".

It works the same for most parts of a chicken/turkey: "Two chicken thighs please", "Two turkey breasts please".

 

[Rover_KE]

A chicken leg has a thigh and a drumstick. In recipes, the appropriate part is specified.

In restaurants, if I ordered a chicken leg I would expect to get both parts — attached.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Anatomically, you are correct, but the names used vary from person to person and restaurant to restaurant. In AmE the lower part of the chicken leg can be called 'leg" or "drumstick". A half chicken can be wing, breast, thigh, and either leg or drumstick. A quarter chicken can be white meat (wing and breast) or dark meat (thigh and leg or drumstick).