Maiden, mād′n, n. a maid: in Scotland, a machine like the guillotine, formerly used for beheading criminals.—adj. pertaining to a virgin or young woman: consisting of maidens: (fig.) unpolluted: fresh: new: unused: first: that has never been captured, said of a fortress.—ns. Maid′enhair, a name given to a fern from the fine hair-like stalks of its fronds; Maid′enhood, Maid′enhead, the state of being a maid: virginity: purity: freshness; Maid′enliness.—adjs. Maid′enly, maiden-like: becoming a maiden: gentle: modest; Maid′en-meek (Tenn.), meek as a maiden; Maid′en-tongued, gentle in voice like a girl; Maid′en-wid′owed, widowed while still a virgin.—n. Maid′hood (Shak.).—Maiden assize, an assize at which there are no criminal cases; Maiden battle, a first contest; Maiden fortress, a fortress that has never been captured; Maiden name, the family name of a married woman before her marriage; Maiden over, in cricket, an over in which no runs are made; Maiden speech, the first public speech made by a person, esp. in Parliament; Maiden stakes, in horse-racing, the money contended for in a race between horses that have never run before.
Maieutic, mā-ū′tik, adj. helping childbirth.—n. midwifery. [Gr.]
Maigre, mā′gėr, adj. made neither from flesh-meat nor from gravy: belonging to a fast-day or to a fast.—Maigre food, food allowed to be eaten on fast-days. [Fr. maigre, lean—L. macer.]
Mail, māl, n. defensive armour for the body formed of steel rings or network: armour generally.—v.t. to clothe in mail: (Scot.) to stain.—adjs. Mail′-clad, clad with a coat of mail; Mailed, protected by mail. [Fr. maille—L. macula, a spot or a mesh.]
Mail, māl, n. a bag for the conveyance of letters, &c.: the contents of such a bag: the person or the carriage by which the mail is conveyed.—v.t. to put into the mail: to send by mail.—adj. Mail′able, capable of being sent by mail.—ns. Mail′-bag, a bag in which letters are carried; Mail′-boat, a boat which carries the public mails; Mail′-cart, a cart in which mails are carried: a small cart, with long handles, for the amusement of children; Mail′-catch′er, an apparatus attached to a mail-carriage to catch up mail-bags while the train is in motion; Mail′-coach, -car, or -drag, the conveyance which carries the public mails; Mail′-guard, an officer who guards the public mails; Mail′ing-tā′ble, a table used in a post-office in sorting letters; Mail′-train, a railway train which carries the public mails. [O. Fr. male, a trunk, a mail—Old High Ger. malaha, a sack; Gael. mala, a sack.]
Mail, māl, n. an old French coin—half a denier: rent.—n. Mail′ing, a farm. [See Blackmail.]
Maim, mām, n. a bruise: an injury: a lameness: the loss of any essential part.—v.t. to bruise: to disfigure: to injure: to lame or cripple: to render defective.—n. Maim′edness, the state of being maimed or injured. [O. Fr. mehaing, a bruise.]
Main, mān, n. might: strength. [A.S. mægen.]
Main, mān, adj. chief, principal: first in importance: leading.—n. the chief or principal part: the ocean or main sea: a continent or a larger island as compared with a smaller: a principal gas or water pipe in a street, or the largest conductor in a system of electric lights.—ns. Main′boom, the spar which extends the foot of a fore-and-aft mainsail; Main′deck, the principal deck of a ship—so in Main′brace, the brace attached to the mainyard (see Splice); Main′land, the principal or larger land, as opposed to a smaller portion.—adv. Main′ly, chiefly, principally.—ns. Main′mast, the principal mast of a ship, second from the prow; Main′sail, the principal sail generally attached to the mainmast; Main′sheet, the sheet or rope attached to the lower corner of the mainsail; Main′spring, the spring which gives motion to any piece of machinery, esp. that of a watch or a clock; Main′stay, the rope which stretches forward from the top of the mainmast: chief support; Main′top, a platform on the top of the mainmast; Main′topmast, the mast next above the lower mainmast; Main′topsail, the sail above the mainsail, in square-rigged vessels; Main′yard, the lower yard on the mainmast. [O. Fr. maine or magne, great—L. magnus, great.]
Main, mān, n. a hand at dice: a match at cockfighting: a banker's shovel for coin. [O. Fr. main—L. manus, hand.]