maiden name

2 definitions found

maiden name - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Maiden \Maid"en\, a.
     1. Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to,
        or characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence.
        "Amid the maiden throng." --Addison.
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              Have you no modesty, no maiden shame ? --Shak.
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     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. "A surprising old
        maiden lady." --Thackeray.
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     3. Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused.
        "Maiden flowers." --Shak.
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              Full bravely hast thou fleshed
              Thy maiden sword.                     --Shak.
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     4. Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been
        captured, or violated. -- T. Warton. Macaulay.
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     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 the first regular service voyage of a ship.
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maiden name - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  maiden name
      n 1: a woman's surname before marriage