maiden

[ meyd-n ]

/ ˈmeɪd n /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR maiden ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

adjective

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.

Nearby words

maid of honour, maid of orléans, maid-in-waiting, maidan, maidanek, maiden, maiden castle, maiden name, maiden over, maiden pink, maiden speech

Origin of maiden

before 1000; Middle English; Old English mægden, equivalent to mægd, mæg(e)th (cognate with German Magd, Gothic magaths) + -en -en⁵

Related forms

maid·en·ish, adjectivemaid·en·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for maiden

People might be surprised that during that period “Maiden Voyage,” one of your most well-loved standards, began as a TV jingle.
Herbie Hancock Holds Forth|David Yaffe|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She continued to go by the surname Wilhelm, but Bill took her maiden name as a tribute to her.
The Wind Beneath de Blasio’s Wings|Michael Daly|November 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Federal Reserve created Maiden Lane to smooth the way for the deal.
Let’s All Stop Feeling Sorry for JPMorgan Chase Having to Pay Billions|Daniel Gross|October 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
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’ Theories|Marlow Stern|August 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST

“Bear and the Maiden Fair, The”: A traditional, if exceedingly ribald, song that is quite popular throughout Westeros.
‘Game of Thrones’ Season 3 for Dummies|Jace Lacob|March 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In a moment a young man appears ghost-like at the maiden's side.
Indian Boyhood|[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman
It was to be the scene of her one great act in life; the spot she was entering as a maiden and would leave as a wife.
The Mystery of the Hasty Arrow|Anna Katharine Green
She speedily obeyed the instructions of her father, and endured to rear a race of adders with her maiden hands.
The Danish History, Books I-IX|Saxo Grammaticus ("Saxo the Learned")
The maiden listened attentively and wondered in herself whether what he said was true.
The Crimson Fairy Book|Various
Here the Assassin prince became enamoured of a Mongol maiden of the very lowest class.
Secret Societies of the Middle Ages|Thomas Keightley

British Dictionary definitions for maiden

maiden

/ (ˈmeɪdən) /

noun

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

Derived Forms

maidenish, adjectivemaiden-like, adjective

Word Origin for maiden

Old English mægden; related to Old High German magad, Old Norse mogr young man, Old Irish mug slave

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

maiden

noun

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of maiden

Related forms

Examples from the Web for maiden

British Dictionary definitions for maiden

maiden

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for maiden