maiden

American  

[meyd-n] / ˈmeɪd n /

noun

1. a girl or young unmarried woman; maid.

2. Archaic. a female virgin.

3. Maiden, (in Neopaganism) the first form of the Goddess, represented as a young woman and said to symbolize youth and the first stages of life or growth.

4. a horse that has never won a race.

5. a race open only to maiden horses.

6. an instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.

7. Cricket. maiden over.

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adjective

1. Archaic. of, relating to, or befitting a girl or unmarried woman.

   her maiden virtues.

2. Archaic. (of a woman, especially one past middle age) unmarried.

   my maiden aunt.

3. (of a girl or woman) never having had sexual intercourse; virgin.

4. made, tried, appearing, etc., for the first time.

   a maiden flight.

5. (of a horse) never having won a race or a prize.

6. (of a prize or a race) offered for or open only to maiden horses.

7. untried, as a knight, soldier, or weapon.

maiden British  

/ ˈmeɪdən /

noun

1. archaic

   1. a young unmarried girl, esp when a virgin

   2. ( as modifier )

      a maiden blush

2. horse racing

   1. a horse that has never won a race

   2. ( as modifier )

      a maiden race

3. cricket See maiden over

4. Also called: clothes maiden.  dialect a frame on which clothes are hung to dry; clothes horse

5. (modifier) of or relating to an older unmarried woman

   a maiden aunt

6. (modifier) of or involving an initial experience or attempt

   a maiden voyage

   maiden speech

7. (modifier) (of a person or thing) untried; unused

8. (modifier) (of a place) never trodden, penetrated, or captured

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Other Word Forms

• maiden-like adjective
• maidenish adjective
• maidenship noun

Etymology

Origin of maiden

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English mægden, equivalent to mægd, mæg(e)th (cognate with German Magd, Gothic magaths ) + -en -en ⁵

Example Sentences

When Titanic departed on her doomed maiden voyage in April 1912 she was the largest, most luxurious and most technically advanced ship ever to sail the seas.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

“The inclusion of a maiden resource for West Dome Underground and extensions at Main Dome Underground outline exciting high-grade additions which can serve as a supplement to the base load low-grade open pit,” says Hissey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Last year, in her maiden speech, she said that members' allowances would be cut by 5%.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Lufthansa, celebrating the centenary of its maiden flight next month, announced its highest-ever annual revenue of €39.6 billion for 2025 last week, beating analyst expectations, as it raised its dividend and lifted 2026 financial guidance.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

Except for nursing the baby, she was more or less free to hold him or put him down, same as if she was his grandmother or a maiden aunt.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Related Words

• inaugural
• introductory