maiden

Related to maiden: iron maiden

ice maiden

pejorative A coolly composed, unemotional woman; a woman without affection or warmth of feeling. I don't know how Janet can go out with an ice maiden like Mary. Many see the prime minister as some kind of ice maiden, but I think she's just being as tough as she needs to be.
See also: ice, maiden

maiden voyage

1. The first time a vehicle, especially a boat or ship, departs on a journey. My parents bought my a car for my birthday! I can't wait to take it out on its maiden voyage. The Queen attended the maiden voyage of the new Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier.
2. By extension, the first time one experiences or goes through something. This is the quarterback's maiden voyage in the Super Bowl.
See also: maiden, voyage
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

maiden voyage

Fig. the first voyage of a ship or boat. The liner sank on its maiden voyage. Jim is taking his yacht on its maiden voyage.
See also: maiden, voyage
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

maiden voyage

The first experience, as in This tennis tournament is my maiden voyage in statewide competition. This term, originally meaning the first voyage of a ship, was first recorded in 1901, but the use of maiden to signify "the first time" dates from the mid-1500s.
See also: maiden, voyage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • ice maiden
  • ice queen
  • woman of means
  • fussock
  • a woman of few words
  • woman of many parts
  • a woman for all seasons
  • business girl
  • a woman of her word
References in classic literature
In the morning Gerda told her all that the Wood-pigeons had said; and the little maiden looked very serious, but she nodded her head, and said, "That's no matter-that's no matter.
When the mother had taken a sup at her flask, and was having a nap, the little robber maiden went to the Reindeer, and said, "I should very much like to give you still many a tickling with the sharp knife, for then you are so amusing; however, I will untether you, and help you out, so that you may go back to Lapland.
The robber maiden lifted up little Gerda, and took the precaution to bind her fast on the Reindeer's back; she even gave her a small cushion to sit on.
Andersens Fairy Tales
He set her at table by his side, and her modest ways and behavior pleased him so much that he said, 'I will marry this maiden and none other in the world,' and after some days he married her.
Yellow Fairy Book
As he spoke, the maiden, clad in glittering garments, met him in the path with a smile that took away his breath.
The maiden again vanished, and he turned and fled for his life.
When he had ended, the holy hermit was a moment silent, then said: "My son, I have attended to thy story, and I know the maiden. I have myself seen her, as have many.
Can Such Things Be
``What remains?'' cried Ivanhoe; ``Glory, maiden, glory!
``By the soul of Hereward?'' replied the knight impatiently, ``thou speakest, maiden, of thou knowest not what.
The high-minded maiden concluded the argument in a tone of sorrow, which deeply expressed her sense of the degradation of her people, embittered perhaps by the idea that Ivanhoe considered her as one not entitled to interfere in a case of honour, and incapable of entertaining or expressing sentiments of honour and generosity.
Ivanhoe
CHORUS Go, free the maiden from her rocky cell; And for the unburied outlaw build a tomb.
On press on, My henchmen, haste with double speed to the tomb Where rocks down-torn have made a gap, look in And tell me if in truth I recognize The voice of Haemon or am heaven-deceived." So at the bidding of our distraught lord We looked, and in the craven's vaulted gloom I saw the maiden lying strangled there, A noose of linen twined about her neck; And hard beside her, clasping her cold form, Her lover lay bewailing his dead bride Death-wedded, and his father's cruelty.
1) Thee on the two-crested rock Lurid-flaming torches see; Where Corisian maidens flock, Thee the springs of Castaly.
Antigone
And even the little God may he find, who is dearest to maidens: beside the well lieth he quietly, with closed eyes.
And this is the song that Zarathustra sang when Cupid and the maidens danced together:
Thus Spake Zarathustra