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.
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. (Zoöl.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate (Raia batis), and of the thornback (R. clavata).
Fair maid. (Zoöl.) 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.