maiden Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
    maid.
  2. noun (cricket) an over in which no runs are scored
    maiden over.
  3. adjective satellite serving to set in motion
    initiatory; initiative; inaugural; first.
    • the magazine's inaugural issue
    • the initiative phase in the negotiations
    • an initiatory step toward a treaty
    • his first (or maiden) speech in Congress
    • the liner's maiden voyage

WordNet

Maid"en noun
Etymology
OE. maiden, meiden, AS. mægden, dim. of AS. mæg, fr. mago son, servant; akin to G. magd, mädchen, maid, OHG. magad, Icel. mögr son, Goth. magus boy, child, magaps virgin, and perh. to Zend. magu youth. Cf. Maid a virgin.
Definitions
  1. An unmarried woman; a girl or woman who has not experienced sexual intercourse; a virgin; a maid.
    She employed the residue of her life to repairing of highways, building of bridges, and endowing of maidens. Carew.
    A maiden of our century, yet most meek. Tennyson.
  2. A female servant. Obs.
  3. An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals. Wharton.
  4. A machine for washing linen.
Maid"en adjective
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence. "Amid the maiden throng." Addison.
    Have you no modesty, no maiden shame ? Shak.
  2. Never having been married; not having had sexual intercourse; virgin; -- said usually of the woman, but sometimes of the man; as, a maiden aunt. "A surprising old maiden lady." Thackeray.
  3. Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused. "Maiden flowers.' Shak.
    Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy maiden sword. Shak.
  4. Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been captured, or violated. T. Warton. Macaulay. maiden voyage. first regular service voyage of a ship
Maid"en transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To act coyly like a maiden; -- with it as an indefinite object.
    For had I maiden'd it, as many use. Loath for to grant, but loather to refuse. Bp. Hall.

Webster 1913