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.
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.
Maid"en*hair` (?), n. (Bot.) A fern of the genus Adiantum (A. pedatum),
having very slender graceful stalks. It is common in the United States,
and is sometimes used in medicine. The name is also applied to other
species of the same genus, as to the Venus-hair.
Maiden grass, the smaller quaking grass. -- Maiden tree. See Ginkgo.
Maid"en*head (?), n. [See Maidenhood.] 1. The state of being a maiden;
maidenhood; virginity. Shak.
2. The state of being unused or uncontaminated; freshness; purity.
[Obs.]
The maidenhead of their credit.
Sir H. Wotton.