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.
⇒ Maid is used either adjectively or in composition, signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant.
4. Zool.
The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate (Raia batis), and of the thornback (R. clavata).
[Prov. Eng.]
Fair maid. Zool. 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.
<-- maid of honor. principal female attendant (if unmarried) of a bride at wedding. (If married, matron of honor.) -->
© Webster 1913.