maiden
- a girl or young unmarried woman; maid.
- a horse that has never won a race.
- a race open only to maiden horses.
- an instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.
- Cricket. maiden over.
- of, relating to, or befitting a girl or unmarried woman.
- (of a woman) unmarried: my maiden aunt.
- made, tried, appearing, etc., for the first time: a maiden flight.
- virgin.
- (of a horse) never having won a race or a prize.
- (of a prize or a race) offered for or open only to maiden horses.
- untried, as a knight, soldier, or weapon.
Origin of maiden
Examples from the Web for maiden
Contemporary Examples
People might be surprised that during that period “Maiden Voyage,” one of your most well-loved standards, began as a TV jingle.
She continued to go by the surname Wilhelm, but Bill took her maiden name as a tribute to her.
The Federal Reserve created Maiden Lane to smooth the way for the deal.
On top of that, he's using Skyler's maiden name on his fake ID.
Walt Kills Skyler? What’s with the Color Green? Craziest ‘Breaking Bad’ TheoriesMarlow Stern
August 12, 2013
“Bear and the Maiden Fair, The”: A traditional, if exceedingly ribald, song that is quite popular throughout Westeros.
Historical Examples
In low and soothing tones, the maiden inquired, "Where did we go, Paralus?"
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
"But in a maiden it would be less seemly," answered Philothea.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
"Dearest Philothea, I scarcely know his countenance," replied the maiden.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
"I am Eudora, the adopted daughter of Phidias," rejoined the maiden.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
His mother's maiden name was Cordes, and she also was of French extraction.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis MarionWilliam Dobein James
maiden
- archaic, or literary
- a young unmarried girl, esp when a virgin
- (as modifier)a maiden blush
- horse racing
- a horse that has never won a race
- (as modifier)a maiden race
- cricket See maiden over
- Also called: clothes maiden Northern English dialect a frame on which clothes are hung to dry; clothes horse
- (modifier) of or relating to an older unmarried womana maiden aunt
- (modifier) of or involving an initial experience or attempta maiden voyage; maiden speech
- (modifier) (of a person or thing) untried; unused
- (modifier) (of a place) never trodden, penetrated, or captured
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for maiden
n.
Old English mægden, mæden "maiden, virgin, girl; maid, servant," diminutive of mægð, mægeð "virgin, girl; woman, wife," from Proto-Germanic *magadinom "young womanhood, sexually inexperienced female" (cf. Old Saxon magath, Old Frisian maged, Old High German magad "virgin, maid," German Magd "maid, maidservant," German Mädchen "girl, maid," from Mägdchen "little maid"), fem. variant of PIE root *maghu- "youngster of either sex, unmarried person" (cf. Old English magu "child, son, male descendant," Avestan magava- "unmarried," Old Irish maug "slave").
adj.
"virgin, unmarried," c.1300, from maiden (n.). The figurative sense of "new fresh, first" (cf. maiden voyage) is first recorded 1550s. Maiden name is from 1680s.