maiden
Archaic. a girl or young unmarried woman; maid.
Archaic. a female virgin.
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.
Archaic. of, relating to, or befitting a girl or unmarried woman: her maiden virtues.
Archaic. (of a woman, especially one past middle age) unmarried: my maiden aunt.
(of a girl or woman) never having had sexual intercourse; virgin.
made, tried, appearing, etc., for the first time: a maiden flight.
(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
1Other words from maiden
- maid·en·ish, adjective
- maid·en·ship, noun
Words Nearby maiden
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use maiden in a sentence
People might be surprised that during that period “maiden Voyage,” one of your most well-loved standards, began as a TV jingle.
She was a fair maiden, a beautiful virgin born on a summer's day, married on a summer's day.
She continued to go by the surname Wilhelm, but Bill took her maiden name as a tribute to her.
The Fed lent maiden Lane $28.82 billion, and JPMorgan lent maiden Lane $1.15 billion.
Let’s All Stop Feeling Sorry for JPMorgan Chase Having to Pay Billions | Daniel Gross | October 21, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe 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 | THE DAILY BEAST
The exile and the maiden, in short, fell in love with each other, and they mutually vowed never to be parted but by force.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanFor forty years Anastatia Dodd had lived in maiden meditation fancy free.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills"Oh, but dear Mrs. Dodd, suppose she couldn't help it," said the artless maiden with a blush and a little sigh.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsA member of parliament took occasion to make his maiden speech, on a question respecting the execution of a particular statute.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousRecall his threat when coughed down on the occasion of his maiden speech in the House of Commons.
Assimilative Memory | Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
British Dictionary definitions for maiden
/ (ˈmeɪdən) /
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 woman: a maiden aunt
(modifier) of or involving an initial experience or attempt: a maiden voyage; maiden speech
(modifier) (of a person or thing) untried; unused
(modifier) (of a place) never trodden, penetrated, or captured
Origin of maiden
1Derived forms of maiden
- maidenish, adjective
- maiden-like, adjective
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
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