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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)