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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Maiden

Maid'en, n.

noun

(mād'n), n. [A-S. mægden, mæden, mǽden, O. H. Ger. magatin. See supra.]

  1. A maid.
  2. An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals. Wharton.
  3. A machine for washing linen.
A drawing of a tall, braced execution device with a raised blade.
Maiden.

Maid'en, a.

adjective

(mād'n), a. 1. Pertaining to a young woman or virgin; as, maiden charms.

Sense 2. Consisting of young women or virgins. “Amid the maiden throng.”

Sense 3. Fresh; new; unused; unhackneyed; unpolluted; pure; virgin.

He fleshed his maiden sword. Shak.

Maiden assize (Eng. Law), an assize at 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 speech, the first speech of a new member in a public body.

Māid'en, v. i.

verbintransitive

(mād'n), v. i. To speak and act demurely or modestly. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.