Maid n.
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.
Note: ☞ 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 (Raia 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.
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Thorn·back n.
1. Zool. A European skate (Raia clavata) having thornlike spines on its back.
2. Zool. The large European spider crab or king crab (Maia squinado).
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