Definition: maiden

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

maiden
     adj : serving to set in motion; "the magazine's inaugural issue";
           "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an
           initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or
           maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden
           voyage" [syn: inaugural, initiative, initiatory,
           first]
     n 1: an unmarried girl (especially a virgin) [syn: maid]
     2: (cricket) an over in which no runs are scored [syn: maiden
        over]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

            Have you no modesty, no maiden shame ? --Shak.

   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.

   3. Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused.
      ``Maiden flowers.'' --Shak.

            Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy maiden sword.
                                                  --Shak.

   4. Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been
      captured, or violated. -- T. Warton. Macaulay.

   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 \Maid"en\, n. [OE. maiden, meiden, AS. m[ae]gden, dim. of
   AS. m[ae]g?, fr. mago son, servant; akin to G. magd,
   m["a]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.

            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. A female servant. [Obs.]

   3. An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in
      Scotland for beheading criminals. --Wharton.

   4. A machine for washing linen.

Maiden \Maid"en\, v. t.
   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.

Source: U.S. Gazetteer (1990)

Maiden, NC (town, FIPS 40660)
  Location: 35.57578 N, 81.20615 W
  Population (1990): 2574 (1023 housing units)
  Area: 7.3 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 28650

MAIDEN, n.  A young person of the unfair sex addicted to clewless
conduct and views that madden to crime.  The genus has a wide
geographical distribution, being found wherever sought and deplored
wherever found.  The maiden is not altogether unpleasing to the eye,
nor (without her piano and her views) insupportable to the ear, though
in respect to comeliness distinctly inferior to the rainbow, and, with
regard to the part of her that is audible, bleating out of the field
by the canary -- which, also, is more portable.

    A lovelorn maiden she sat and sang --
        This quaint, sweet song sang she;
    "It's O for a youth with a football bang
        And a muscle fair to see!
                The Captain he
                Of a team to be!
    On the gridiron he shall shine,
    A monarch by right divine,
        And never to roast on it -- me!"
                                                         Opoline Jones