— maidenish , adj. — maidenship , n.
/mayd"n/ , n.
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. See maiden over .
adj.
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.
9. virgin.
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.
[ bef. 1000; ME; OE maegden, equiv. to maegd, maeg ( e ) th (c. G Magd, Goth magaths ) + -en -EN 5 ]