maiden

[meyd-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.

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• maidenish adjective
• maiden-like adjective
• maidenship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maiden¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of maiden¹

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

Example Sentences

He called her the "ice maiden" who operates mostly "in the back", but she is known as one of the most feared political operatives in the US.

From BBC

She missed some tournaments early in the year with a foot injury before claiming a maiden clay title at a WTA 125 event in Paris.

From BBC

“Rubber Soul” is arguably the Beatles‘ maiden voyage into classic album-hood. No less than the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson described “Rubber Soul” as the greatest LP of all time.

From Salon

Alcaraz won the first of his Grand Slam titles in New York in 2022 aged 19, and followed it up with his maiden Wimbledon triumph the following year.

From BBC

In Hungary last year, Piastri was on his way to his maiden win, but McLaren chose to pit Norris before him, saying they were worried about a threat from Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes behind.

From BBC

Related Words

• inaugural 
• introductory