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Entry 9 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Maiden

/(mād"'n)/ · Maid·en · IPA /ˈmeɪdən/
01 n. An unmarried woman; a girl or woman who has not experienced sexual intercourse; a virgin; a maid.
  1. 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. 2.
    A female servant.[Obs.]
  3. 3.
    An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.
  4. 4.
    A machine for washing linen.
02 a. Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence.
  1. 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 ?” — Shak.
  2. 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. 3.
    Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused.
    “Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy maiden sword.” — Shak.
  4. 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.
03 v. t. To act coyly like a maiden; -- with it as an indefinite object.
  1. 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.
Phrases & compounds
Maiden grass — the smaller quaking grass.
Maiden tree — See Ginkgo.