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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Maiden \Maid"en\ (m[=a]d"'n), n. [OE. maiden, meiden, AS.
maegden, dim. of AS. maeg[eth], fr. mago son, servant; akin
to G. magd, m[aum]dchen, maid, OHG. magad, Icel. m["o]gr son,
Goth. magus boy, child, magaps virgin, and perh. to Zend.
magu youth. Cf. {Maid} a virgin.]
1. An unmarried woman; a girl or woman who has not
experienced sexual intercourse; a virgin; a maid.
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She employed the residue of her life to repairing of
highways, building of bridges, and endowing of
maidens. --Carew.
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A maiden of our century, yet most meek. --Tennyson.
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2. A female servant. [Obs.]
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3. An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in
Scotland for beheading criminals. --Wharton.
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4. A machine for washing linen.
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Maiden \Maid"en\, a.
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.
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Have you no modesty, no maiden shame ? --Shak.
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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.
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3. Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused.
"Maiden flowers." --Shak.
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Full bravely hast thou fleshed
Thy maiden sword. --Shak.
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4. Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been
captured, or violated. -- T. Warton. Macaulay.
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{Maiden assize} (Eng. Law), 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. --Smart.

{Maiden name}, the surname of a woman before her marriage.

{Maiden pink}. (Bot.) See under {Pink}.

{Maiden plum} (Bot.), 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.
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Maiden \Maid"en\, v. t.
To act coyly like a maiden; -- with it as an indefinite
object.
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For had I maiden'd it, as many use.
Loath for to grant, but loather to refuse. --Bp. Hall.
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{Maiden grass}, the smaller quaking grass.

{Maiden tree}. See {Ginkgo}.
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