n. 1 a archaic or poet. a girl; a young unmarried woman. b (attrib.) unmarried (maiden aunt). 2 Cricket = maiden over. 3 (attrib.) (of a female animal) unmated. 4 (often attrib.) a a horse that has never won a race. b a race open only to such horses. 5 (attrib.) being or involving the first attempt or occurrence (maiden speech; maiden voyage). maiden name a wife's surname before marriage. maiden over Cricket an over in which no runs are scored off the bat. maidenhood n. maidenish adj. maidenlike adj. maidenly adj.
[ OE mgden, dimin. f. mgeth f. Gmc ]