old maid

plural old maids

1. countablederogatoryuncountableAn old woman who has never married; a spinster.

   If she is looking for the perfect man before she marries, she'll be an old maid.

   1 more example

   The people produce far more food than they consume, and exchange the surplus for gongs and brass cannon, ancient jars, and gold and silver ornaments, which constitute their wealth. On the whole, they appear very free from disease, marriages take place early (but not too early), and old bachelors and old maids are alike unknown. Why, then, we must inquire, has not a greater population been produced?

   1869, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Malay Archipelago, volume I, London: Macmillan and Co., page 141

   Synonyms: spinster

2. countableuncountableThe Madagascar periwinkle.

   Old Maids, Vinca rosea

   1947, Olive Percival, Our old-fashioned flowers, page 187

   4 more examples

   The following are the only hardy species grown, but V. rosea, with rosy or white flowers, is a pretty greenhouse plant known as ' Old Maid ' or ' Madagascar Periwinkle'.

   1901, John Weathers, A Practical Guide to Garden Plants

   Vincas — Old Maids or Periwinkles, often serve a useful purpose as edgings or ground work to beds or borders.

   1915, Trinidad. Dept. of Agriculture, Bulletin - Volumes 14-21, page 21

   They would bring potted plants and ferns and seeds for old-maids and periwinkles.

   1975, William Goyen, The Collected Stories of William Goyen, page 158

   Here I show that Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don f. (Apocynaceae), known as Old Maid or Madagascar periwinkle, has floral nectaries that combine both functions.

   2004, African Entomology: Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa

3. countableuncountableThe common zinnia.

   Zinnias are sometimes known as "Old Maids" in the South.

   1989, William C. Welch, Perennial Garden Color, page 247

   5 more examples

   Of annuals: Sweet Alyssum, Amaranthus — Prince's Feather, and Love lies bleeding, Celosia— Cock's comb; Asters, Callistephus— China and German Asters, Centaurea, Bachelor's Button, Clarkia Coreopsis, Datura, Escholzia, Hibuiscus— Rose Mallow, Iberis— Candy tuft, Impatiens— Balsam, Lavatera, Lupin, Mimosa, Mirabilis, Four o'clock— Marvel of Peru, Nigella— Love-in-a-mist— Jack in the Bush, Portulaca, Petunia, Reseda Odorata— Mignouette, Scabiosa— Mouring Bride, Silene— Catchfly, Calendula— Pot Marigold, Tagetes — French Marigold, and African do, Papaver — Poppy, and Zinnia — Old maids.

   1868, The New England Farmer - Volume 2, page 347

   Among the flowers commonly grown were holly hocks, phlox, four o'clocks, bouncing betty, lantanas, the hardy flagg, now known as iris, zinnias, commonly called old maids, beds of chrysanthemums, periwinkle, lady slippers, blue bonnets, lark spur, prim rose, little wild yellow rose, climbing yellow rose, and single petal red rose.

   1981, The West Texas Historical Association Year Book - Volume 57, page 79

   Décor featured a centerpiece at the old maid's party—the old maid flower, a zinnia.

   2006, Anne Hart, 102 Ways to Apply Career Training in Family History/Genealogy, →ISBN

   If the children are at home, the front yard, creeping unsodded from beneath the porch, is naked and clean. If the children are grown ..., verbena, old maids [zinnias], phlox, and four-o'clocks, crowd each together for space

   2011, Susan Haltom, Jane Roy Brown, One Writer’s Garden: Eudora Welty’s Home Place, →ISBN, page 101

   Zinnia elegans: Common Zinnia, Old-Maids Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower) Size: 1–4 ft Zones: NA Warm-season annual Summer flowers in all colors

   2011, William C. Welch, Greg Grant, Heirloom Gardening in the South: Yesterday's Plants for Today's Gardens, →ISBN

4. countableuncountableAn unpopped kernel in a batch of popped popcorn kernels.

   2004 April 29 – May 5, "Unpopped Kernels Costing U.S. Billions", The Onion, available in Embedded in America, →ISBN, page 147, Crawford asked Congress to double funding for the FDA's $200 million old-maid-elimination research project.

5. uncountableA card game in which cards must be paired and one unmatchable card is designated "old maid".

   Synonyms: Old Maid

6. countableuncountableThe unmatchable card in that game.

plural Old Maids

1. uncountableA children's card game, sometimes played with a special deck, where the object of the game is for each player to find matches for all the cards in his hand, without being stuck with the single unmatchable card.

   The only card games I know are Go Fish and Old Maid.

2. countableThe unmatchable card itself.

   The Joker will serve as the Old Maid.