Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Maid?

\Maid\, n. [Shortened from maiden. ?. See {Maiden}.] 1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden. Would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son. --Shak. Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me. --Jer. ii. 32. 2. A man who has not had sexual intercourse. [Obs.] Christ was a maid and shapen as a man. --Chaucer. 3. A female servant. Spinning amongst her maids. --Shak. Note: Maid is used either adjectively or in composition, signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant. 4. (Zo["o]l.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate ({Raia batis}), and of the thornback ({R. clavata}). [Prov. Eng.] {Fair maid}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Fair}, a. {Maid of honor}, a female attendant of a queen or royal princess; -- usually of noble family, and having to perform only nominal or honorary duties. {Old maid}. See under {Old}.