maiden

- 3 dictionary results

maid⋅en

[meyd-n]

–noun

1.	a girl or young unmarried woman; maid.

2.	a horse that has never won a race.

3.	a race open only to maiden horses.

4.	an instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.

5.	Cricket. maiden over.

–adjective

6.	of, pertaining to, or befitting a girl or unmarried woman.

7.	(of a woman) unmarried: my maiden aunt.

8.	made, tried, appearing, etc., for the first time: a maiden flight.

10.	(of a horse) never having won a race or a prize.

11.	(of a prize or a race) offered for or open only to maiden horses.

12.	untried, as a knight, soldier, or weapon.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME; OE mægden, equiv. to mægd, mæg(e)th (c. G Magd, Goth magaths) + -en -en ⁵

Related forms:

maid⋅en⋅ish, adjective

maid⋅en⋅ship, noun

–noun

Cricket. an over in which no runs are made.

Also called maiden.

Origin:
1850–55

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

maid·en (mād'n)

1. An unmarried girl or woman.
2. A virgin.
3. A racehorse that has never won a race.
4. A maiden over.
A machine resembling the guillotine, used in Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries to behead criminals.
Sports
1. A racehorse that has never won a race.
2. A maiden over.

adj.

[Middle English, from Old English mægden; see maghu- in Indo-European roots.]

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