from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Maid \Maid\, n. [Shortened from maiden. ?. See {Maiden}.]
1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman;
esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden.
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Would I had died a maid,
And never seen thee, never borne thee son. --Shak.
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Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her
attire? Yet my people have forgotten me. --Jer. ii.
32.
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2. A man who has not had sexual intercourse. [Obs.]
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Christ was a maid and shapen as a man. --Chaucer.
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3. A female servant.
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Spinning amongst her maids. --Shak.
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Note: Maid is used either adjectively or in composition,
signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant.
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4. (Zool.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray
skate ({Raia batis}), and of the thornback ({Raia
clavata}). [Prov. Eng.]
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{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}.
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