Maiden

Pertaining to cricket, it refers to an over (also called maiden over) by a bowler where no runs have been scored off any delivery. This also excludes any extras given away, the only runs that matter have to come of the batsmen's bat.

Maid"en (?), n. [OE. maiden, meiden, AS. maegden, dim. of AS. maeg, fr. mago son, servant; akin to G. magd, madchen, maid, OHG. magad, Icel. mogr son, Goth. magus boy, child, magaps virgin, and perh. to Zend. magu youth. Cf. Maid a virgin.]

1.

An unmarried woman; a girl or woman who has not experienced sexual intercourse; a virgin; a maid.

She employed the residue of her life to repairing of highways, building of bridges, and endowing of maidens. Carew.

A maiden of our century, yet most meek. Tennyson.

2.

A female servant.

3.

An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.

Wharton.

4.

A machine for washing linen.

© Webster 1913.

Maid"en, a.

1.

Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence.

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.

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.<-- maiden voyage. first regular service voyage of a ship -->

© Webster 1913.

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.

© Webster 1913.