maid

maid
maid (n.) late 12c., "a virgin, a young unmarried woman," shortening of MAIDEN (Cf. maiden) (n.). Like that word, used in Middle English of unmarried men as well as women (Cf. maiden-man, c.1200, used of both sexes, reflecting also the generic use of man). Domestic help sense is from c.1300. In reference to Joan of Arc, attested from 1540s (Cf. Fr. la Pucelle). Maid Marian, one of Robin Hood's companions, first recorded 1520s, perhaps from French, where Robin et Marian have been stock names for country lovers since 13c. Maid of Honor (1580s) originally was "unmarried lady of noble birth who attends a queen or princess;" meaning "principal bridesmaid" is attested from 1895. Maydelond (translating L. terra feminarum) was "the land of the Amazons."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:
, , , , , / ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Maid — Maid, n. [Shortened from maiden. ?. See {Maiden}.] 1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden. [1913 Webster] Would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son. Shak. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • maid — [meıd] n [Date: 1100 1200; Origin: maiden] 1.) a female servant, especially in a large house or hotel ▪ a kitchen maid 2.) old use a woman or girl who is not married →↑old maid …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • maid — [mād] n. [ME maide, contr. < maiden] 1. a) Now Chiefly Literary a girl or young unmarried woman b) Obs. a virgin 2. Now Rare OLD MAID 3. a girl or woman servant: often in compounds [barmaid, housemaid] …   English World dictionary

  • Maid|en — «MAY duhn», noun, adjective. –n. 1. a young unmarried woman; maid; girl: »Here s to the maiden of bashful fifteen (Richard B. Sheridan). 2. a) a horse that has never won a race. b) a race or prize for such horses. 3. Cricket. a maiden over. 4 …   Useful english dictionary

  • maid|en — «MAY duhn», noun, adjective. –n. 1. a young unmarried woman; maid; girl: »Here s to the maiden of bashful fifteen (Richard B. Sheridan). 2. a) a horse that has never won a race. b) a race or prize for such horses. 3. Cricket. a maiden over. 4 …   Useful english dictionary

  • Maid — Maid,die:⇨Mädchen(2) Maid→Mädchen …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

  • maid — [ meıd ] noun count 1. ) a woman whose job is to clean rooms, serve meals, wash clothes, etc. in a house a ) a woman whose job is to clean rooms in a hotel 2. ) an old word meaning a girl or young woman who is not married => MAID OF HONOR …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Maid — Maid, eine Art Guillotine, s. b …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • maid — [mɛd] n. f. ÉTYM. 1885; mot angl. « jeune fille ». ❖ ♦ Anglicisme. Vx. Servante, femme de chambre anglaise. ⇒ Barmaid …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Maid — Sf Magd, Mädchen, Mädel …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”