Maiden /(mād"'n)/

Maid·en

Maiden

n.
  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.
    A maiden of our century, yet most meek.
  2. A female servant. [Obs.]
  3. An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.
  4. A machine for washing linen.

Maiden

a.
  1. Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence.
    Have you no modesty, no maiden shame ?
  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.
  3. Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused.
    Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy maiden sword.
  4. Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been captured, or violated.

Phrases & Compounds
Maiden assize
an assize which there is no criminal prosecution; an assize which is unpolluted with blood. It was usual, at such an assize, for the sheriff to present the judge with a pair of white gloves.
Maiden name
the surname of a woman before her marriage.
Maiden pink
See under Pink.
Maiden plum
a West Indian tree (Comocladia integrifolia) with purplish drupes. The sap of the tree is glutinous, and gives a persistent black stain.
Maiden speech
the first speech made by a person, esp. by a new member in a public body.
Maiden tower
the tower most capable of resisting an enemy.
maiden voyage
the first regular service voyage of a ship.

Maiden

v. t.
  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.

Phrases & Compounds
Maiden grass
the smaller quaking grass.
Maiden tree
See Ginkgo.