maiden Hear it!

maiden definition

maiden (mād'n)

noun

  1. Now Rare
    1. a girl or young unmarried woman
    2. a virgin
  2. a race horse that has never won a race
  3. a device like the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals
  4. Cricket an over in which no runs are scored
    in full, maiden over

Etymology: ME < OE mægden, dim. < base of mægeth, maid, virgin, akin to Goth magaths, OHG magad < IE base *maghu-, youngster, unmarried > OIr macc, son, Mac-

adjective

  1. of, characteristic of, or suitable for a maiden
    1. unmarried
    2. virgin: now used only of older women
  2. inexperienced; untried; unused; new; fresh
  3. first or earliest a maiden speech, a maiden voyage
    1. never having won a race a maiden horse
    2. for such horses a maiden race

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