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Maid

1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; especially, 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. Christ was a maid and shapen as a man. (Chaucer)

3. A female servant. Spinning amongst her maids. (Shak)

maid is used either adjectively or in composition, signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant.

4. (Science: zoology) The female of a ray or skate, especially. Of the gray skate (raia batis), and of the thornback (R. Clavata). Fair maid.

(Science: zoology) see fair, 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 old.

Origin: Shortened from maiden. See maiden.