maiden

[ meyd-n ]

noun

1. Archaic. a girl or young unmarried woman; maid.
2. Archaic. a female virgin.
3. a horse that has never won a race.
4. a race open only to maiden horses.
5. an instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.
6. 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. See maiden over
   cricket See maiden over
4. dialect.
   Also calledclothes maiden 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

Derived Forms

• ˈmaidenish, adjective
• ˈmaiden-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• maiden·ish adjective
• maiden·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maiden¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, from 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

So many areas that it involves inputting the maiden name of your maternal grandmother and, of course, the scary phone number request.

From Search Engine Watch

The landing page of my personal website links to articles published under both bylines as well as articles published under my maiden name, Ruth Shalit.

From Washington Post

If Munson was naked in them, well so were maidens in beloved paintings and sculptures.

From Washington Post

The SN8′s maiden flight could have come as early as Friday, but the launch date slid repeatedly as observers read SpaceX’s plans in the tea leaves of local road closures and Federal Aviation Administration flight restrictions.

From Popular-Science

She happily dropped her maiden name of Williams and changed her last name when they got married.

From Washington Post

People might be surprised that during that period “Maiden Voyage,” one of your most well-loved standards, began as a TV jingle.

From The Daily Beast

She was a fair maiden, a beautiful virgin born on a summer's day, married on a summer's day.

From The Daily Beast

She continued to go by the surname Wilhelm, but Bill took her maiden name as a tribute to her.

From The Daily Beast

The Fed lent Maiden Lane $28.82 billion, and JPMorgan lent Maiden Lane $1.15 billion.

From The Daily Beast

The Federal Reserve created Maiden Lane to smooth the way for the deal.

From 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.

From Project Gutenberg

For forty years Anastatia Dodd had lived in maiden meditation fancy free.

From Project Gutenberg

"Oh, but dear Mrs. Dodd, suppose she couldn't help it," said the artless maiden with a blush and a little sigh.

From Project Gutenberg

A member of parliament took occasion to make his maiden speech, on a question respecting the execution of a particular statute.

From Project Gutenberg

Recall his threat when coughed down on the occasion of his maiden speech in the House of Commons.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• inaugural
• introductory