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).
Phrases and idioms:
maiden name a wife's surname before marriage. maiden over Cricket an over in which no runs are scored off the bat.
Derivatives:
maidenhood n. maidenish adj. maidenlike adj. maidenly adj.
Etymology: OE m{aelig}gden, dimin. f. m{aelig}geth f. Gmc