maiden

[meyd-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.

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 formsmaid·en·ish, adjectivemaid·en·ship, noun

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

Related Words for maiden

introductory, inaugural, prime, initial, primary, pioneer, beginning, original, first, fresh, intact, new, untried, unused, initiatory, unbroached, untapped

Examples from the Web for maiden

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
“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

Historical Examples of maiden

In low and soothing tones, the maiden inquired, "Where did we go, Paralus?"
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
"But in a maiden it would be less seemly," answered Philothea.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
"Dearest Philothea, I scarcely know his countenance," replied the maiden.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
"I am Eudora, the adopted daughter of Phidias," rejoined the maiden.
Philothea
Lydia 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 Marion
William Dobein James

British Dictionary definitions for maiden

maiden

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 Formsmaidenish, 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

Word Origin and History for maiden

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.