O.E.
mæden, mægden, dim. of
mægð, mægeð "maid," from P.Gmc.
*magadinom "young womanhood, sexually inexperienced female" (cf. O.S.
magath, O.Fris.
maged, O.H.G.
magad, Ger.
Magd "maid, maidservant," Ger.
Mädchen "girl, maid," from
Mägdchen "little maid"), fem. variant of PIE base
*maghu- "youngster of either sex, unmarried person" (cf. O.E.
magu "child, son," Avestan
magava- "unmarried," O.Ir.
maug "slave"). Figurative sense of "new fresh, first" (cf.
maiden voyage) first recorded 1555. For
maidenhead (c.1300) see
godhead.