maiding

M3A1I1D2I1N1G2

noun

A young woman; representing a mispronunciation of the word maiden.

Scrabble 11
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Meanings

nounmaiding (plural maidings)

plural maidings

  1. obsoleteA young woman; representing a mispronunciation of the word maiden.

    When on the quarter-deck was seen / A maiding fit to be a Queen[.]

    1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, page 84
    2 more examples

    At this season o' the year valentines is exceedin prolific, and the arrival of the postman is eagerly watched for by many a maiding o' tender years.

    1887 February 25, The Alexandra and Yea Standard, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express, Victoria, page 2, column 7

    How in the town of Coventree, a young chap he was fined, for kissing a maiding when she didn't feel inclined.

    1900 January 26, The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, page 22, column 4

Origin

Blend of maiden + -ing, through misapprehension of maiden as a case of g-dropping.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

maiding. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maiding

MLA

“maiding.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maiding. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “maiding,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/maiding.

Source: maiding on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.