What is "fair maid"

Maid \Maid\, n. [Shortened from maiden. ?. See Maiden.]

1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden.

   Would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son.
   --Shak.

   Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me.
   --Jer. ii. 3

2. 2. A man who has not had sexual intercourse. [Obs.]

   Christ was a maid and shapen as a man.
   --Chaucer.

3. A female servant.

   Spinning amongst her maids.
   --Shak.

   Note: Maid is used either adjectively or in composition, signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant.

4. (Zo["o]l.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate ( Raia batis), and of the thornback ( Raia clavata). [Prov. Eng.]

   Fair maid. (Zo["o]l.) See under Fair, a.

   Maid of honor, a female attendant of a queen or royal princess; -- usually of noble family, and having to perform only nominal or honorary duties.

   Old maid. See under Old.

Fair \Fair\ (f[^a]r), a. [Compar. Fairer; superl. Fairest.] [OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. f[ae]ger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. f["u]gen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and prob. also to E. fang, peace, pact, Cf. Fang, Fain, Fay to fit.]

1. Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure.

   A fair white linen cloth.
   --Book of Common Prayer.

2. Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.

   Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made.
   --Shak.

3. Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin.

   The northern people large and fair-complexioned.
   --Sir M. Hale.

4. Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; -- said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day.

   You wish fair winds may waft him over.
   --Prior.

5. Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered; open; direct; -- said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view.

   The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged.
   --Sir W. Raleigh.

6. (Shipbuilding) Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; -- said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines.

7. Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor; open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; -- said of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a fair statement. ``I would call it fair play.''
   --Shak.

8. Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; -- said of words, promises, etc.

   When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty.
   --L' Estrange.

9. Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting.

10. Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen. The news is very fair and good, my lord. --Shak. Fair ball. (Baseball)

    1. A ball passing over the home base at the height called for by the batsman, and delivered by the pitcher while wholly within the lines of his position and facing the batsman.

    2. A batted ball that falls inside the foul lines; -- called also a fair hit. Fair maid. (Zo["o]l.)

       1. The European pilchard ( Clupea pilchardus) when dried.

       2. The southern scup ( Stenotomus Gardeni). [Virginia]

          Fair one, a handsome woman; a beauty,

          Fair play, equitable or impartial treatment; a fair or equal chance; justice.

          From fair to middling, passable; tolerable. [Colloq.]

          The fair sex, the female sex.

          Syn: Candid; open; frank; ingenuous; clear; honest; equitable; impartial; reasonable. See Candid.

Fair Maid may refer to:

• Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany (1184–1241),
• Margaret, Maid of Norway (1283–1290), the Fair Maid of Norway
• Joan of Kent (1328–1385), the Fair Maid of Kent
• Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway (died 1474)
• The Fair Maid of the Inn, a comedy in the canon of John Fletcher
• The Fair Maid of Perth, a novel by Sir Walter Scott
• The Fair Maid of the West, a play written by Thomas Heywood